manhood

[man-hood]

noun

1. the state or time of being a man or adult male person; male maturity.

2. traditional manly qualities.

3. maleness, as distinguished from femaleness.

4. virility; potency.

5. male genitalia.

6. men collectively.

7. the state of being human.

manhood

/ ˈmænhʊd /

noun

1. the state or quality of being a man or being manly

2. men collectively

3. archaic,  the state of being human

4. informal,  a euphemism for a man's genitalia

Other Word Forms

• premanhood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of manhood¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; man, -hood

Example Sentences

“It goes to show you: You get into a tinkle contest with a skunk, you get tinkle all over you. It’s like a manhood thing with him — as if manhood can be associated with him.”

Read more on Salon

As an invisible witness, she takes an almost anthropological approach to understanding her youngest grandchild and his peers, boys on the cusp of manhood.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Therein, we find Swift superstitiously "knocking on wood" that their relationship will last, and knocking wood in the bedroom, in an unexpected homage to her fiancé's "manhood".

Read more on BBC

Jordan said he is talking about his journey because the way that prostate cancer and notions of manhood and masculinity are interwoven means men don’t like to talk about the disease — Black men especially.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The show’s last episode, “Sermon on the Mount,” mercilessly lampooned the president’s manhood and penchant for vengeance-driven lawsuits.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adulthood 
• boldness 
• bravery 
• courage 
• fortitude 
• masculinity www.thesaurus.com
• mettle 
• nobility 
• potency 
• virility