male
B1Neutral to formal; universally used in all registers. Technical use in biology/engineering.
Definition
Meaning
Belonging to the sex that produces sperm; of or characteristic of men or boys.
Pertaining to, designed for, or typical of the male sex. In biology, denoting the gamete that fertilizes the female's ovum. In technology, denoting a part, plug, or fitting designed to be inserted into a corresponding female part.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary meaning is biological/anthropological. Extended uses often retain the concept of active insertion or penetration (e.g., a male connector). In sociological contexts, often contrasted with 'female' and 'non-binary'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Slight variation in collocational preferences (e.g., 'male nurse' potentially more marked in AmE historically).
Connotations
Same core connotations. In gendered discourse, similar debates around essentialism.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[male] + noun (e.g., male nurse)[noun] + [of] + [male] (e.g., population of males)predicative use (e.g., The animal is male.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Alpha male”
- “Male chauvinist pig”
- “Male menopause (informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR/diversity contexts (e.g., 'male-dominated industry', 'male-to-female ratio in leadership').
Academic
Common in biological, sociological, and gender studies (e.g., 'male subjects in the study', 'social construction of male identity').
Everyday
Describing people, animals, or fittings (e.g., 'Is your cat male or female?', 'This plug is the male end.').
Technical
In biology: the sex that produces gametes. In engineering: a part with protruding pins or a plug.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not standard as a verb.
American English
- Not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The study focused on male participants.
- You need the male part of the connector.
American English
- The team was mostly male.
- It's a male calico cat, which is rare.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is male.
- The lion is male.
- The company is trying to hire more women as it's very male-dominated.
- Is the puppy male or female?
- The survey revealed a significant gap in attitudes between male and female respondents.
- The electrical cable has a male and a female connector.
- The discourse critiques the traditional representation of the male hero in classical literature.
- In many bird species, the male exhibits more vibrant plumage to attract a mate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MAIL' for a postman – traditionally a male role. Both 'male' and 'mail' sound the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
MALE IS ACTIVE/PENETRATING (e.g., male plug, male aggressor). MALE IS DEFAULT (in some biased contexts, e.g., 'doctors and female doctors').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'мул' (mule). The Russian adjective 'мужской' covers both 'male' and 'masculine' – English sometimes distinguishes (male=sex, masculine=qualities).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'male' as a direct noun for humans in polite/formal contexts is sometimes seen as reductive (prefer 'man/men'). Incorrect: 'Three males entered the shop.' (sounds police report style). Better: 'Three men...'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'male' in a technical, non-biological sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it can sound clinical or dehumanizing in casual conversation (like a police report). It's generally safer to use 'man/men'. As an adjective, it's fine (e.g., male colleague).
'Male' refers to biological sex. 'Masculine' refers to qualities or behaviours traditionally associated with men (e.g., strength, assertiveness), which can be exhibited by anyone.
Yes, for animals it's standard (male dog). For objects, it's a technical metaphor based on the idea of insertion (male plug/fitting).
Yes, it's a core, high-frequency adjective (B1 level) due to its essential function in distinguishing sex/gender in numerous contexts.