What does masculine mean?
Masculine is an adjective for qualities, appearances, or behaviours traditionally associated with men and boys. It can describe a person, a voice, a style of clothing, or a piece of furniture, as in a masculine jacket or a masculine scent. Its sense of what is typical of men is shaped by culture and period, so the word carries different connotations for different speakers. It can be neutral, admiring, or restrictive depending on context. Masculine is also a core term in grammar, where it names one of the gender classes in languages such as French, Spanish, German, and Latin. A masculine noun takes masculine articles and adjective forms, whether or not the thing it names is male. A less common use appears in prosody and music, where a masculine ending falls on a stressed syllable or beat. Because it spans social description, linguistics, and the arts, masculine is a useful word to know precisely.
Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men and boys; also, in grammar, belonging to the gender class that includes words denoting male beings.
"The brand's new fragrance has a warm, masculine character."
Often used for style, voice, and design as well as people. In grammar it describes words, not necessarily the sex of what they name.
In grammar, the masculine gender, or a word or form belonging to it.
"In Spanish, the word for 'problem' is a masculine that ends in -a."
This use is mostly technical, found in grammar and linguistics.
The plural applies only to the noun use in grammar and is uncommon, typically appearing when discussing groups of masculine words or forms.
"In this language, most nouns ending in -o are masculines."
Masculine comes from a Latin word meaning 'little male', so its ancestor was a diminutive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does masculine come from?
Masculine entered English in the Middle English period, borrowed from Old French masculin, which came from Latin masculinus. That Latin word derives from masculus, a diminutive of mas, meaning 'male'. The same Latin root gives English male (through Old French masle), emasculate, and Spanish and Portuguese macho.
Related word forms
How masculine is actually used
Masculine is neutral in register and works in both everyday and formal writing. What counts as masculine varies across cultures and eras, and the word can be admiring or limiting depending on context. It is often applied to clothing, voices, and design, as well as to people. In linguistics it is a technical term, and it does not always match the sex of what a word denotes.
Easily confused with masculine
Male describes biological sex, whereas masculine describes qualities, styles, or grammatical gender traditionally linked with men.
Muscular means having well-developed muscles, whereas masculine refers to traits or characteristics associated with men more broadly.