What does "manhood" mean?
The state or condition of being a human being.
Manhood
/ˈmænhʊd/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state or condition of being a human being.
- Grammar: manhood is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adulthood, adultness, age of consent, boldness.
- Useful contrasts: boyhood, boyhoods, femininity.
- Usage evidence: Most athletes are at their best during their early manhood.
How to use "manhood"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "manhood" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "manhood" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "manhood" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "manhood" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "manhood" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adulthood" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "manhood", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state or condition of being a human being. countable, uncountable
"He feared the speedy decline of all manhood."
- 2 the status of being a man wordnet
- 3 The state or condition of being a man, as contrasted with being a boy, woman, girl, or nonbinary. countable, uncountable
"He was a strapping youth poised on the brink of manhood."
- 4 the quality of being human wordnet
- 5 All of the men of a given place, area, or any human subgroup (ethnicity, nation, race, religion, family, work crew or ship's crew, etc.) regarded collectively. countable, uncountable
"(exclusively and universally: only synonymous in cases for which women are excluded, and when the meaning of manhood is universal or worldwide)"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 the state of being a man; manly qualities wordnet
- 7 The idealized nature of a man: all of the characteristics traditionally and ideally ascribed to manliness regarded collectively. countable, uncountable
"My goodness, James certainly is a prime example of manhood, isn't he?"
- 8 The self-concept of a man being with respect to his possession of the various qualities traditionally and ideally ascribed to manliness; a man's sense or view of himself as being more or less manly. countable, uncountable
"The failure of William's business seems to have been quite damaging to his manhood."
- 9 The male genitalia, especially the penis. countable, euphemistic, uncountable
"She spied on him in the shower and glimpsed his manhood."
Antonyms
Example
"Most athletes are at their best during their early manhood."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "manhood"?
Common synonyms include: adulthood, adultness, age of consent, boldness, braveness, bravery.
How do you use "manhood" in a sentence?
Most athletes are at their best during their early manhood.
How do you pronounce "manhood"?
Pronounced /ˈmænhʊd/.
Etymology
From Middle English manhode, also manhede (> obsolete English manhead), equivalent to man + -hood. Cognate with Middle Dutch manheit (“manhood”), Middle Low German manheit (whence German Low German Mannheit (“manhood”)), German Mannheit (“manhood”).