Word: Male

Pronunciation

/meɪl/

Definitions

• Noun: An adult human or animal who is male, having the reproductive organs typical of the male sex and producing spermatozoa. For example: “The male members of the species have antlers.”
• Adjective: Relating to or denoting the sex that produces gametes (spermatozoa) which can fertilize eggs, typically bearing masculine characteristics such as facial hair in humans. For example: “Male hormones play a role in the development of secondary sexual characteristics.”

Phrases

• “Of male gender” refers to something being related to the male sex.
• “The male of the species” denotes the male individual within a particular group of animals or plants.
• “A male perspective” implies a viewpoint or opinion influenced by being male.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The lioness protected her cubs from the approaching male.”
• Adjective: “The clinic offers specialized health services for males over 40.”

Synonyms

• Man (in the context of ‘adult human male’)
• Masculine (as an adjective)
• He (pronoun)
• Him (object form of pronoun)
• Boy (for a young male)

Note: While “male” as a noun usually refers to non-human animals, in informal contexts it can also refer to a human male. However, “man” or “gentleman” are more commonly used in formal or polite conversation. As an adjective, “male” is universally applicable to both human and non-human contexts where the distinction of sex is relevant.