male chauvinist pig
MediumInformal, pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A pejorative term for a man who holds and expresses strong, arrogant, and prejudiced beliefs that men are superior to women.
A man whose attitudes and behaviors are blatantly and offensively sexist, often characterized by patronizing comments, objectification of women, and a belief in traditional gender roles that limit women's autonomy and equality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is deliberately insulting and provocative, combining 'male chauvinist' (one who is excessively patriotic or prejudiced regarding their own sex) with 'pig' (a derogatory term for an unpleasant person). While still used, it is somewhat dated, originating from the 1960s/70s feminist movement. Its use can be humorous or highly critical depending on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties with identical meaning. No significant lexical or grammatical differences.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both cultures. May be perceived as slightly more dated or associated with second-wave feminism in the UK.
Frequency
Slightly higher historical frequency in American English due to its popularization in the US during the women's liberation movement.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] be {a/an} male chauvinist pig.[Subject] call [Object] {a/an} male chauvinist pig.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a real MCP.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used in formal business contexts; considered unprofessional. May be used in informal complaints about a colleague's or manager's behavior.
Academic
Used in gender studies, sociology, or history to critique patriarchal attitudes, often placed in quotation marks to denote it as a historical or colloquial term.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation to criticize someone's blatantly sexist behavior, often with a tone of frustration or ridicule.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used in sociolinguistics or discourse analysis as an example of a pejorative compound.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was accused of male-chauvinist-pigging his way through the meeting.
- Stop male chauvinist pigging about the housework!
American English
- He's always male-chauvinist-pigging his comments during team calls.
- Did you hear him male chauvinist pig about the 'weaker sex'?
adverb
British English
- He behaved male-chauvinist-piggishly.
- He spoke male-chauvinist-piggily about women drivers.
American English
- He acted male-chauvinist-piggishly at the party.
- He commented male-chauvinist-piggily on her presentation.
adjective
British English
- He has such male-chauvinist-pig attitudes.
- It was a really male-chauvinist-pig comment to make.
American English
- That was a totally male-chauvinist-pig remark.
- His male-chauvinist-pig behavior is getting old.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandad can be a bit of a male chauvinist pig sometimes.
- He said girls can't play football. What a male chauvinist pig!
- Her boss is a real male chauvinist pig; he never listens to the women in the office.
- I broke up with him because he turned out to be a male chauvinist pig.
- The film's protagonist starts as a classic male chauvinist pig but undergoes significant personal growth.
- His male chauvinist pig tendencies were exposed when he claimed women were emotionally unsuited for leadership.
- The term 'male chauvinist pig', though now somewhat anachronistic, effectively encapsulates the blatant sexism of that era's corporate culture.
- Critics lambasted the politician's male chauvinist pig rhetoric as a regressive attempt to appeal to a dwindling demographic.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PIG wearing a 'Male #1' t-shirt, CHAUVINistically ignoring women and grunting arrogantly. The three words create a vivid, memorable image.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MAN WITH OFFENSIVE ATTITUDES IS A DIRTY ANIMAL (pig). PREJUDICE IS A DISEASE (chauvinism).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct, word-for-word translation (e.g., 'мужской шовинистический свин'). It is a fixed idiom.
- Do not confuse 'chauvinist' with Russian 'шовинист', which primarily denotes extreme nationalism. In English, 'male chauvinist' specifically means sexism favoring men.
- The term 'pig' here is metaphoric for an unpleasant person, not the animal 'свинья' in a literal sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any man with traditional views (overuse weakens its impact).
- Incorrectly shortening it to 'chauvinist pig' without 'male', which can be ambiguous.
- Misspelling 'chauvinist' (e.g., 'chauvenist').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'male chauvinist pig' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is still understood and used, but its peak usage was in the 1970s. Modern equivalents like 'sexist' or specific descriptions of behavior are often more common. It can sound dated or deliberately provocative.
No, the term is inherently gendered ('male'). A woman holding prejudiced beliefs favoring men might be described as having 'internalized misogyny' or being a 'traitor to the sisterhood,' but not as a 'male chauvinist pig.'
A 'chauvinist' broadly means someone with excessive and prejudiced loyalty to their own group (originally country/race). A 'male chauvinist' specifies prejudiced loyalty to men. Adding 'pig' intensifies the insult, implying the person is also boorish, offensive, and unpleasant.
Yes, it is intentionally offensive and derogatory. It is a strong pejorative label that accuses someone of being deeply sexist and personally objectionable. Use with caution, as it can escalate conflict.
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