having or relating to a gender identity that corresponds to a complex, variable set of social and cultural roles, traits, and behaviors assigned to people of the sex that typically produces sperm cells.
Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces sperm cells during reproduction.
Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores.
Botany. (of seed plants) staminate.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a male person; masculine.
a male voice.
comprising male people.
a male choir.
Machinery. made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part.
a male plug.
a male person.
Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure that normally produces sperm cells as part of the process of reproduction.
of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a man; masculine
for or composed of men or boys
a male choir
(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction
(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes
(of flowers) bearing stamens but lacking a functional pistil
electronics mechanical engineering having a projecting part or parts that fit into a female counterpart
a male plug
In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete of the same species (the female gamete). The sperm cells of higher animals and plants are male gametes.
Possessing or being a structure that produces only male gametes. The testicles of humans are male reproductive organs. Male flowers possess only stamens and no carpels.
See man. Male, masculine, virile are adjectives that describe men and boys or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Male, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is often used as a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to inseminate in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with female in all such uses: his oldest male relative; the male parts of the flower. Masculine refers essentially to qualities, characteristics, or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with men and boys. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as strength, forthrightness, and courage: a firm, masculine handshake; a masculine impatience at indecision. Virile implies a vigor and muscularity associated with mature manhood and often carries a suggestion of sexual or procreative potency: his virile good looks; a swaggering, virile walk. See also manly.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French ma(s)le, from Latin masculus; see masculine
From Latin; see origin at mal-
A male is a guy, a dude, a boy, or a man. A male animal is not female. Male life forms are the opposite of females in many ways. The biggest way is that males can’t have babies. Male is a manly word. Rarr! You won’t find women on an all-male rugby team. If the doctor says, “It’s a boy,” you’ve got yourself a male baby. Males exist in plants and other animals — the male is the gamete-producing sex that fertilizes the female. Things can be male, too, like adapters that have male parts that fit into female parts. Most male animals are bigger than females, but not all. The biggest blue whales are female.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wolbachia occurs naturally in mosquitoes, and scientists found they could exploit it: if the male carries the bacteria but the female does not, or carries a different strain, sterilization occurs.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
At Higher, it was 79% for female students and 74% for male.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The demographic also helps capture the drivers most likely to get into crashes: young male drivers, since insurers in California are prohibited from considering sex and age in setting rates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Stars are younger and more male than they’ve ever been.
From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026
After checking her over, the male officer walks over and pats my back.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Male and female U1s can speak through an artificial intelligence tool programmed by the company to offer soothing words if it detects fatigue or stress, and get to know its user over time.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Male infertility can often be mixed up with ideas of virility and masculinity, making it more difficult for some men to acknowledge or discuss the problem.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Male heartthrobs are increasingly fluid, mirroring a new demographic reality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Male mice with increased TTP levels showed significantly lower frailty scores than untreated mice.
From Science Daily ● May 19, 2026
Male attendants carry out a young woman on a stretcher.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
There are several forms of hair loss, the most common being androgenetic alopecia, or male- or female-pattern hair loss.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026
Most of the relevant statues were written 75 years ago for a male-, union- and manufacturing-dominated workforce that no longer exists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
The dsx primary RNA thus produces female-specific mRNA and male- specific mRNA, both of which encode functional Dsx proteins, DsxF and DsxM, respectively.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Dr James Turner, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, has identified 25,000 research papers published in the past five years, around 25,000 papers that required male- or female-only mice.
From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2021
The nucleus of the tube-cell has meanwhile passed into the tube, as does also the generative nucleus which divides to form two male- or sperm-cells.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1 by Various
The Maldives hotel will be located about 25 minutes by speedboat from the capital Malé and feature 80 ultraluxury beachside and over-water villas, the Trump Organization said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
Since 2018, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has connected this archipelago’s hyper-dense capital, Malé, and the international airport — expanded by Chinese companies — one island to the east.
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Soon after his victory, observers noted that the Chinese ambassador in Malé was quick to congratulate Mr Muizzu.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2023
According to shipping tracking data, two pleasure vessels owned by aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and iron and steel mogul Alexander Abramov entered the waters near Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on Wednesday.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 3, 2022
Malé contains 150 houses, all small; it is a place of no trade.
From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William
He's not up to mischief: these are males that don't bite, and they carry a gut bacteria called Wolbachia, which means when they mate with uninfected females, the eggs won't hatch.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
Kobe Animal Kingdom put the four males and one female, all born in May at the facility, on public viewing last week.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
"Simon measured the length of their fourth feather, which tells their age, and from the colour of their feathers, if they are spotty they are females and the non-spotty ones are males," she added.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The researchers suggest that larger brains may have provided major evolutionary advantages, even if the hormonal conditions associated with that development also carried biological costs for males.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
He would gather up one or two empty kerosene cans from my camp and hit and kick them ahead of him as he charged toward a group of adult males.
From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
