- possessing qualities, such as vigour or courage, generally regarded as appropriate to or typical of a man; masculine
- characteristic of or befitting a man
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
man•ly /ˈmænli/USA pronunciation
adj., -li•er, -li•est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- having qualities traditionally thought of as belonging to or relating to men;
not feminine or boyish:manly acts of courage. - relating to or suitable for males:manly sports.
man•ly
(man′lē),USA pronunciation adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv.
adj.
adv.
man′li•ness, n.
adj.
- having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery.
- pertaining to or suitable for males:manly sports.
adv.
- [Archaic.]in a manly manner.
- bef. 900; Middle English (adjective, adjectival, adverb, adverbial); Old English manlīc (adjective, adjectival), manlīce (adverb, adverbial). See man1, -ly
- Manly, manful, mannish mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult men. Manly is usually a term of approval, suggesting traits admired by society, such as determination, decisiveness, and steadiness:a manly acceptance of the facts; manly firmness of character.Manful, also a term of approval, stresses qualities such as courage, strength, and fortitude:a manful effort to overcome great odds.Mannish is most often used derogatorily in reference to the traits, manners, or accouterments of a woman that are thought to be more appropriate to or typical of a man:a mannish abruptness in her speech; She wore a severely mannish suit.See also male.
- 1. weak, cowardly.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
manly /ˈmænlɪ/ adj ( -lier, -liest)
'manly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):