manhood

noun

man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce manhood (audio)
Synonyms of manhoodnext
1
: the condition of being a human being
2
: qualities associated with men : manliness
3
: the condition of being an adult male as distinguished from a child or female
4
: adult males : men
5
: penis

Synonyms

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Examples of manhood in a Sentence

He took the comment as a challenge to his manhood. He grew from boyhood to manhood in a small southern town. the manhood of a nation
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.
To have a trans man in this role is both a meaningful reflection on what elements (and struggles) of manhood are learned and adopted, as well as a downright gut-busting parody of the type of bro-y teenager that usually appears in Hollywood’s teenage comedies. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025 Make no mistake:the emerging definition of manhood consolidates Trump's power, encouraging conformity to an ideal that is out of reach. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 Playing boxer Jake LaMotta, Robert De Niro gave all of his mind and body to this portrait of a man destroyed by his anger, his jealousies, his pride, his retrograde notions of manhood. — EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025 The West had a 24-year-old Kobe Bryant, who always took competition seriously, as well as Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, to whom basketball was a nightly battle of manhood. — Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for manhood

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of manhood was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing manhood

Rhymes for manhood

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Cite this Entry

“Manhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manhood. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

manhood

noun
man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce manhood (audio)
1
: courage, manliness
2
: the condition of being an adult male
3
: adult human males
the manhood of a nation

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Nglish: Translation of manhood for Spanish Speakers

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