male
1 Americanadjective
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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.
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Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces sperm cells during reproduction.
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Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores.
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Botany. (of seed plants) staminate.
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a male person; masculine.
a male voice.
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comprising male people.
a male choir.
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Machinery. made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part.
a male plug.
noun
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a male person.
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Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure that normally produces sperm cells as part of the process of reproduction.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a man; masculine
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for or composed of men or boys
a male choir
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(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction
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(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes
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(of flowers) bearing stamens but lacking a functional pistil
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electronics mechanical engineering having a projecting part or parts that fit into a female counterpart
a male plug
noun
noun
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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.
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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.
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- antimale noun
- intermale adjective
- maleness noun
- supermale noun
Etymology
Origin of male1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French ma(s)le, from Latin masculus; masculine
Origin of male-3
From Latin; mal-
Explanation
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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A 2022 color additive petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates found that Red Dye No. 3 caused cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of the dye.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
Jackson: I had been doing “The Rookies,” which was about three young male cops, so it was not a big step to flip that and be three young women.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
"When officers arrived on scene, they recognized the male to be the same suspect from the earlier incident and immediately detained him," the statement said.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
In other words, toward a profile more typical of male players.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
One of the male mediums yelled out, “Don’t, I don’t want to, leave me alone,” before being dragged into a closet and locked in by unseen forces.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
