Male definition

māl
males
See word origin
Frequency:
Designating or of the sex that fertilizes the ovum of the female and begets offspring.
adjective
11
3
Consisting of men or boys.
adjective
7
1
A man or boy.
noun
6
2
A male person; man or boy.
noun
7
4
Male is defined as someone of the sex that produces sperm, or is something that relates to this sex, or is the part of a machine or tool that is designed to fit a corresponding female part.

Brad Pitt is an example of a person who would be described as male.

The end of a hose that screws into a threaded opening is an example of the male end of the hose.

noun
6
3
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Belonging to the sex which typically has testes, which in humans and many other species is typically the one which has XY chromosomes. [from 14th c.]
adjective
3
0
A male animal or plant.
noun
5
3
Of or denoting the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete. Used of anisogamous organisms.
adjective
4
2
The definition of a male is a person of the sex that produces sperm (as opposed to a female who produces an egg).

Brad Pitt is an example of a male.

noun
2
0
Consisting of members of this sex.

A male choir.

adjective
2
0
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(place) Chief island & capital of the Maldives.
proper name
1
0
(biology) Inherently characteristic of the male of a species. [from 17th c.]
adjective
1
0
The capital of the Maldives, on Male, the chief atoll of the island country.
4
4
Designating or having a part shaped to fit into a corresponding hollow part (called female)
adjective
2
2
Of, characteristic of, or suitable for members of this sex; masculine; virile.
adjective
1
1
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Designating an object, such as an electric plug, designed for insertion into another part or a socket.
adjective
0
0
Of, relating to, or designating the sex that has organs to produce spermatozoa for fertilizing ova.
adjective
0
0
Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex in humans and other animals.

Male hormones; male fashions.

adjective
0
0
Consisting of members of this sex.

A male choir.

adjective
0
0
Relating to or designating organs, such as anthers or antheridia, that produce gametes capable of fertilizing those produced by female organs.
adjective
0
0
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Bearing stamens but not pistils; staminate.

Male flowers.

adjective
0
0
Having stamens or antheridia, but no carpels, archegonia, or oogonia.
adjective
0
0
Designating or of a reproductive structure or part producing spermatozoids that can fertilize the female eggs.
adjective
0
0
Relating to or denoting the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete. Used of anisogamous organisms.
adjective
0
0
Designating an object, such as an electric plug, designed for insertion into another part or a socket.
adjective
0
0
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Relating to or designating the sex that has organs to produce spermatozoa for fertilizing ova.
adjective
0
0
Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex in humans and other animals.

Male hormones; male fashions.

adjective
0
0
Relating to or designating organs, such as anthers or antheridia, that produce gametes capable of fertilizing those produced by female organs.
adjective
0
0
Bearing stamens but not pistils; staminate.

Male flowers.

adjective
0
0
A male organism.
noun
0
0
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A man or boy.
noun
0
0
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.
adjective
0
0
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.
adjective
0
0
A male organism.
noun
0
0
Pertaining to or associated with men, or male animals; masculine. [from 16th c.]
adjective
0
0
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(grammar, less common than 'masculine') Masculine; of the masculine grammatical gender.
adjective
0
0
(figuratively) Of instruments or tools: designed to fit into or penetrate a "female" counterpart, as in a connector or pipe fitting. [from 16th c.]
adjective
0
0
One of the male (masculine) sex or gender.
  • A human member of the masculine sex or gender.
  • An animal of the sex that has testes.
  • A plant of the masculine sex.
noun
0
0
A male organism.
noun
2
3
Belonging to the masculine gender; identifying one's gender (see gender identity) as masculine.
adjective
0
1
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
male
Plural:
males

Origin of male

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin masculus diminutive of mās male

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English male, borrowed from Old French masle, malle (Modern French mâle), from Latin masculus (“masculine, a male"), diminutive of mās (“male, masculine").

    From Wiktionary

Male Sentence Examples

  • In a few moments I heard a gruff male voice ask, "Is this the swami?"

  • While male, this voice wasn't Gabriel's.

  • The words "mature male" crossed her mind again.

  • If you were male and born on a farm, you were almost certainly going to be a farmer.

  • A male voice interrupted her play.

More sentences

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near male in the Dictionary