mas·cu·line
ˈma-skyə-lən 
1
a
: considered to be characteristic of men
stereotypically masculine traits/characteristics
masculine pride/bravado
Cady stands as a direct challenge to Bowden's masculine dominance—their first encounter in the film, for example, is when Cady shoves his hand into Bowden's car and turns off the ignition.—
Jamelle Bouie
: marked by or having qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with men
Jamelle Bouiea masculine voice
This one's a man's watch. And though it's built for rugged, masculine pursuits, the simple face and elegant strap lend it a suit-worthy elegance, too.—advertisement in GQ
advertisement in GQThe masculine equivalent of haute couture in suits features jackets with soft shoulders, large sleeves, neat fronts and small-notched lapels …—Ariel Wizman
Ariel Wizman
b
: of, relating to, or being a man or boy
(dated) … the masculine [=male] inhabitants of the village …—Thomas Hardy
Thomas HardyThe butler these days is seen as a masculine version of Heloise, Miss Manners and Julia Child rolled into one.—Liz Pogue
Liz Pogue
also
: of, relating to, or intended for men or boys
A hundred years later, the finery of French court dressing had given way to the simplicity of the English squire, whose coarse tweeds and woolens set the tone for a new definition of masculine attire. —Frances Rogers
Frances Rogers 2
grammar
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender (see gender entry 1 sense 1a) that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to males as well as other words and forms either systematically or arbitrarily in the same category
The word for "cat" is feminine in German (die Katze) and masculine in Spanish (el gato).
3
a
poetry
: being a stressed and usually additional final syllable after the final complete foot (see foot entry 1 sense 4)
a masculine ending
b
of rhyme
: having a stressed final syllable
4
of a musical cadence
: ending on an accented beat
The masculine cadence resolves on the first beat of the measure and is much more conclusive than the feminine.—William Russo
William Russo
masculinely
adverb
compare feminine entry 1
plural masculines
1
grammar
a
: a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the masculine gender (see masculine entry 1 sense 2)
b
: the masculine (see masculine entry 1 sense 2) gender
2
a
: the embodiment or conception of an idealized masculine nature
the power of the divine masculine
b
: the set of qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with men
Like many of Campion's films, "The Power of the Dog" dramatizes a clash between the masculine and the feminine—Phil's own sense of manliness is bound up with emotional remoteness and animosity toward softness.—Jordan Kisner
Jordan Kisnercompare feminine entry 2
Synonyms
Examples of masculine in a Sentence
Adjective
The living room is decorated in a more masculine style than the bedroom.
“He” is a pronoun of the masculine gender.
The masculine form of the Spanish adjective “linda” is “lindo.”
Noun
The masculine of the Spanish adjective “linda” is “lindo.”
Recent Examples on the WebAlexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
Tag Heuer Carrera Date 36mm Named after a notoriously dangerous car race, the Carrera Panamericana, Tag Heuer’s Carrera is often associated with traditionally masculine designs — but the women’s versions exude the elegant simplicity that’s a cornerstone of the Quiet Luxury aesthetic.
—Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for masculine 
Adjective
Amour Vert Violette Organic Cotton Eyelet Dress Flowy, flirty dresses add a feminine touch to an otherwise rather masculine trend.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
Tag Heuer Carrera Date 36mm Named after a notoriously dangerous car race, the Carrera Panamericana, Tag Heuer’s Carrera is often associated with traditionally masculine designs — but the women’s versions exude the elegant simplicity that’s a cornerstone of the Quiet Luxury aesthetic.
—Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for masculine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masculine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near masculine
Cite this Entry
“Masculine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculine. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
masculine
1 of 2 adjective
mas·cu·line
ˈmas-kyə-lən
1
: of the male sex
2
: characteristic of or belonging to men : manly
a masculine voice
3
: of, relating to, or making up the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to males
a masculine noun
masculine gender
masculine
2 of 2 noun1
: a word or form of the masculine gender
2
: the masculine gender
Medical Definition
masculine
adjective
mas·cu·line
ˈmas-kyə-lən
1
2
: having the qualities distinctive of or appropriate to a male
3
: having a mannish bearing or quality
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