man
/mæn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
An adult human male. It can also mean a male person in general in some older or formal uses.
- The man at the gate was very helpful.
- He is a young man from Delhi.
- 2.
A husband or boyfriend, especially in informal speech.
- She introduced him as her man.
- That is her man over there.
- 3.
A person or human being, used in some set phrases or old-fashioned expressions.
- All men are equal under the law.
- He was the man for the job.
verb
To supply people to operate or guard something.
- They manned the reception desk all day.
- Two guards man the entrance at night.
Adinary Nuance
Man is narrower than person and human, because it usually means an adult male. In older writing, it can mean people in general, but that use can sound dated or gendered today. In modern English, choose man carefully when you mean only a male adult. If you mean everyone, people or person is safer.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- người đàn ông
- Spanish
- hombre
- Chinese
- 男人
- Japanese
- 男
- Korean
- 남자
Etymology
Old English man meant 'person' or 'human being'. Over time, it also came to mean 'adult male', while the older general sense survived in some fixed phrases.
Common phrases
man of the houseman of the yearman upto man the desk
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'man' formal or informal?
- The noun **man** is neutral, but some uses are old-fashioned or gendered. In formal writing, **person** or **people** may be better.
- What is the difference between 'man' and 'person'?
- **Man** usually means an adult male. **Person** means any human, male or female.
- Can 'man' mean 'human beings'?
- Yes, but mainly in older, literary, or fixed expressions. Today, it can sound less inclusive.
- What does 'man up' mean?
- It means to become stronger or more courageous. It is informal and can sound rude.