man
41 synonyms and 1 antonyms for man, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An adult male human being.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use man
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English mann ("human being, person"), going back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root simply meaning "human being" — the word originally covered both sexes before narrowing, in most uses, to mean an adult male.
Full origin of man →Frequently asked questions
What does “man” mean?
The word “man” means an adult male human being. In plain terms, the basic word for an adult male person, though it also survives in some older or generic uses meaning "person" or "humankind.".
How do you pronounce “man”?
“Man” is pronounced MAN (/ˈmæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “man” in a sentence?
Here is “man” used in a sentence: “The man at the counter smiled and handed back her change.”
What is another word for “man”?
Words with a similar meaning to “man” include bloke, boy, bro, broski, bruh and cat.
What is the opposite of “man”?
The opposite of “man” — its antonyms — is woman.
What part of speech is “man”?
Depending on how it is used, “man” can be a noun, a verb and an intj.
Where does the word “man” come from?
The word “man” comes from Old English.
Is “man” a common word?
“Man” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a man and a boy?
A man is an adult male human, while a boy is a male child who has not yet grown up. The dividing line is maturity and age, legally often eighteen. Beyond biology, 'man' can also carry the sense of adult responsibility, which is why someone might say a boy has 'become a man.'
Does the word 'man' mean all human beings?
Historically, 'man' and 'mankind' were used to mean humanity as a whole, including women. This usage still appears in older texts and set phrases. Today many writers prefer gender-neutral terms like 'humanity,' 'people,' or 'humankind,' so the general sense of 'man' now sounds dated or is avoided in careful, inclusive writing.
What is the plural of man?
The plural of 'man' is 'men,' an irregular form that changes the vowel rather than adding an '-s.' The same pattern appears in compounds, so one 'fireman' becomes several 'firemen,' and one 'businessman' becomes 'businessmen.' The possessive forms are 'man's' for one and 'men's' for more than one.