Word
macho
Phoneticsma·cho
US/ˈmɑtʃoʊ/
UK/mˈætʃəʊ/
Definition
adj. behaving in a way that shows off traditional male qualities like strength and toughness. It is often used to describe men who try too hard to look powerful or aggressive.
adj. characterised by an exaggerated display of traditional masculine traits, such as physical strength, dominance, and aggression. Often carries a pejorative nuance, implying that the behavior is performative or excessive.
Examples
“He has a very macho attitude toward sports.”
“The film was criticized for its macho dialogue and unnecessary focus on violent confrontations.”
“In many corporate environments, the old macho culture of working extreme hours is slowly being replaced by a focus on mental well-being and work-life balance.”
Examples
simple
“He has a very macho attitude toward sports.”
contextual
“The film was criticized for its macho dialogue and unnecessary focus on violent confrontations.”
complex
“In many corporate environments, the old macho culture of working extreme hours is slowly being replaced by a focus on mental well-being and work-life balance.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'act', or attributively before nouns like 'culture', 'image', or 'attitude'.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish macho (“male”), from Latin masculus. Doublet of male.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.