adj
macho
MACH-oh
adj
1
Showing an exaggerated, often aggressive sense of masculinity.
"He puts on a macho act around his friends but he's actually quite gentle."
noun
1
A man who displays this exaggerated masculine pride.
"The team was full of machos trying to outdo each other in the gym."
How to Use Macho
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a man acting tough and aggressively masculine, often to the point of showing off.
Common mistake
Usually has a slightly negative or mocking tone in English, unlike a simple compliment about masculinity.
Common pairings
macho attitude
macho man
act macho
Word Forms
more macho comparative, machos plural, most macho superlative
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He puts on a _____ act around his friends but he's actually quite gentle.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish macho ("male"), from Latin masculus — the same root as "male."