masculine

[mas-kyuh-lin]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men.

   masculine attire.

2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.

   Synonyms: manly

3. Grammar.,  noting or pertaining to the gender of Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., which has among its members most nouns referring to males, as well as other nouns, as Spanish dedo, “finger,” German Bleistift, “pencil.”

4. (of a woman) mannish.

noun

Grammar.

1. the masculine gender.

2. a noun or other element in or marking that gender.

masculine

/ ˈmæskjʊlɪn /

adjective

1. possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man; manly

2. unwomanly

3. grammar

   1. denoting a gender of nouns, occurring in many inflected languages, that includes all kinds of referents as well as some male animate referents

   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Weg'' is a masculine

Other Word Forms

• masculinely adverb
• masculinity noun
• masculineness noun
• hypermasculine adjective
• hypermasculinely adverb
• hypermasculineness noun
• hypermasculinity noun
• nonmasculine adjective
• nonmasculinely adverb
• nonmasculineness noun
• nonmasculinity noun
• pseudomasculine adjective
• supermasculine adjective
• supermasculinity noun
• ultramasculine adjective
• unmasculine adjective
• unmasculinely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English masculin, from Latin masculīnus, equivalent to mascul(us) “male” ( mās “male” + -culus -cule ¹ ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

C14: via French from Latin masculīnus, from masculus male, from mās a male

Synonym Study

See male.

Example Sentences

I’ve studied Jungian psychology and Hindu Tantra — the energies of masculine and feminine, being and doing, birth and death.

From Los Angeles Times

Tennis champion Serena Williams has dealt with sports commentators derisively calling her too masculine, while a commentator at the Australian Open compared her sister Venus to a gorilla.

From Salon

Active Club members view themselves as defenders of Western civilization and masculine virtue.

From Salon

“I’ve just always liked to express myself through beauty — from either masculine or feminine looks,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's not about making your website pink. It's about using less jargon, competitive language, and masculine imagery," she says.

From BBC

Related Words

• macho 
• male 
• manful 
• manlike 
• manly 
• virile