noun
Very common
men
mehn
Men (noun) means the plural of "man" — adult male humans, or (in older or formal usage) people in general. Example: “The men gathered in the hall to discuss the plan.”
noun
1
The plural of "man" — adult male humans, or (in older or formal usage) people in general.
"The men gathered in the hall to discuss the plan."
"All men are created equal, the document declared."
"Two men were repairing the roof when the rain started."
2
Ordinary soldiers, as distinct from officers.
"The captain praised his men for their courage under fire."
"The sergeant told his men to line up outside the barracks."
"Several hundred men marched into the camp before nightfall."
How to use men
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plural form of "man" — more than one adult male, or troops under a commanding officer.
Common pairings
men and women
the men in charge
his men
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like men.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ gathered in the hall to discuss the plan.
Etymology
From Old English menn, the plural of man, going back to a Proto-Germanic root shared with German Männer and Swedish män.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “men” mean?
The word “men” means the plural of "man" — adult male humans, or (in older or formal usage) people in general. In plain terms, the plural form of "man" — more than one adult male, or troops under a commanding officer.
How do you pronounce “men”?
“Men” is pronounced mehn (/mɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “men” in a sentence?
Here is “men” used in a sentence: “The men gathered in the hall to discuss the plan.”
What part of speech is “men”?
“Men” is a noun.
Where does the word “men” come from?
The word “men” comes from Old English. From Old English menn, the plural of man, going back to a Proto-Germanic root shared with German Männer and Swedish män.
Is “men” a common word?
“Men” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “men” have?
“Men” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the plural of "man" — adult male humans, or (in older or formal usage) people in general.
What is the difference between 'men' and 'man'?
'Man' is singular, referring to one adult male human, while 'men' is its plural, referring to two or more. The change is irregular — the vowel shifts rather than adding '-s'. So you would say 'one man' but 'three men', just as 'one foot' becomes 'two feet'.
What is the singular of 'men'?
The singular of 'men' is 'man'. It is an irregular plural, meaning it does not follow the usual rule of adding '-s'. Instead the middle vowel changes from 'a' to 'e'. English has a small group of these irregular plurals, including foot/feet and tooth/teeth.
Does 'men' ever mean people in general?
Yes. In older or formal usage, 'men' could stand for humankind as a whole, as in the phrase 'all men are created equal'. Modern writing usually prefers inclusive words like 'people' or 'humankind', but the broader sense still appears in historical texts, literature, and set phrases.
What is the difference between 'men' and 'males'?
'Men' normally refers to adult male humans, carrying a sense of age and often of dignity. 'Males' is a broader, more clinical term that can describe male humans of any age or the male of any animal species. You would say 'grown men' but 'males of the herd'.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include men:
