Male Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

👨
Add to dictionary

male

[meɪl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

gender

Of or denoting the sex that produces small, typically motile gametes, especially spermatozoa, with which a female may be fertilized or inseminated to produce offspring.

Synonyms

boy, gentleman, guy, man.

Examples of usage

  • He was the only male in the group of friends.
  • The male lion fiercely protected his pride.
  • She identified as male from a young age.
Context #2 | Adjective

gender

Of or denoting the sex that produces small, typically motile gametes, especially spermatozoa, with which a female may be fertilized or inseminated to produce offspring.

Synonyms

manly, masculine, virile.

Examples of usage

  • The male population in the city was decreasing.
  • She had a male cat and a female dog.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'male'

The word 'male' originated from the Latin word 'masculus', which means 'masculine'. The concept of male gender has been present in human societies since ancient times, with males often holding positions of power and authority. In many species, males play a role in reproduction by producing sperm. The term 'male' is commonly used to differentiate between the two primary biological sexes, male and female.


See also: maleficent.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,373, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.