DictionarymanAdult male
noun / verb

man

An adult human male.

A man near the entrance holds the door for us.

Etymology

Old English mann could mean a human being as well as a male person. The selected sense retains the male use and ordinarily specifies an adult.

More examples

  • Two men carry the couch upstairs.
  • Volunteers man the phones during the fundraiser.
  • Three guards manned the gate overnight.

Forms

man · men · mans · manned · manning

manhood noun — The state of being an adult male.

Similar words

guy
An informal word for a man in casual conversation.
male
Specifies sex rather than adulthood and can include boys.
staff
Like the verb man, means to provide workers for something.