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.
Fraternities -- male social clubs common on US campuses -- are particularly scrutinized.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
There is no hard evidence of any enduring romantic attachment, and Ms. Lee suspects Brookner’s career may have been held back by misogynistic male superiors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
In June, the UK government scrapped plans to house up to 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
The nation also elected several historic firsts, including the first Muslim senator, the first openly gay male senator and the first Black female governor, in spite of Republican campaign attacks around identity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
“What do you mean by male and female patient?”
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
That name likely refers to the Russian group Muzhskoi Legion or "Male Legion", an ultra-right group with such extreme views it was banned by a Moscow court in 2021.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
In late July, the company launched “The Male Shopper Project,” a mock training camp starring comedian Hannah Berner and Antoni Porowski, the culinary expert from “Queer Eye.”
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
Male vampires can even procreate with human women: Jesse has two half-vampire sons with his living wife, Phyllis, played by Rose Abdoo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Colin Williams is in Llantrisant Male Choir, which has about 78 members.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Male and female users typically reported that they are about an inch taller than the national average.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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
Scourged | | in Matthew; but | Passover. and mocked. | | one male- | Scourged by Pi- Led to cruci- | | factor repents. | late before con- fixion.
From Autobiographical Sketches by Annie Wood Besant
Hussain Waheed, Freight Care’s managing director, said the company handled goods in transit in Malé to Russia, but never knowingly helped ship any goods that could be used to produce weapons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Some of the products that flow through Malé to Moscow are designated under sanctions as dual-use, meaning they could be used for military or civilian purposes, such as nourishing the country’s sanctioned airline industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
A 20-minute walk across the capital, next to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, an even longer sea bridge will link Malé with islands to the west.
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Malé, the capital and most populous city of the Maldives.Credit...
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Malé about 6 P.M. Passed en route a few villages, none of any size or importance.
From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by William Griffith
Kay is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colo., a low-security prison for males.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
It has the same horse-shaped head tilted down from the body, the same curled and grasping tail, and in the males a fully enclosed pouch for brooding the young.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
As healing progressed, the difference between males and females gradually became smaller.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
The BBC understands a row with other males had taken place beforehand.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The core of the audience he saw in his mind’s eye consisted of those adult white males who owned sufficient property to qualify for the vote.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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