masculinity

noun

mas·​cu·​lin·​i·​ty ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē How to pronounce masculinity (audio)
: the quality or nature of the male sex : the quality, state, or degree of being masculine or manly
challenging traditional notions about masculinity and femininity
… a style which alternates between a polished grace and blunt masculinity.Stuart Keate
The man controlling his environment is today the prevailing American image of masculinity.Susan Faludi

Examples of masculinity in a Sentence

some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The apple of snooty mom Victoria's (Parker Posey) eye, who works the family finance business with his dad Timothy (Jason Isaacs), party-loving pool cretin Saxon is this season's poster boy for misguided masculinity. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025 However, the court did not see breasts as inhibiting John’s masculinity and the couple went home without facing any charges. Sarah Barringer, The Conversation, 18 Feb. 2025 Their romances tend to be defined by toxic masculinity, indulging in fantasies of brooding, and sometimes violent men being drawn to unassuming, often overlooked women. Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025 But if there’s no one character quite as gonzo as Tanya, there also aren’t any outright duds like there were in Season Two with Michael Imperioli and F. Murray Abraham trying and failing to outgrow their different kinds of toxic masculinity. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for masculinity

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of masculinity was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculinity. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

masculinity

noun
mas·​cu·​lin·​i·​ty ˌmas-kyə-ˈlin-ət-ē How to pronounce masculinity (audio)
plural masculinities
: the quality, state, or degree of being masculine
measurement of masculinity or femininityPsychological Abstracts

More from Merriam-Webster on masculinity

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