: having qualities (such as strength or virility) traditionally associated with men. Adjective He wasn't manly enough to fight. He has a deep, manly voice. Examples are automatically compiled from …

MANLY meaning: 1. having the qualities that people think a man should have: 2. having the qualities that people…. Learn more.

If you describe a man's behavior or appearance as manly, you mean it shows qualities that are considered typical of a man, such as strength or courage.

Definition of manly adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of men, especially when considered traditionally masculine, as in being courageous or direct: "Few men who are just about to go off on an adventure can resist a manly swig …

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective manly, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Nov 10, 2025 · Without a successful defense of one's city, none of the other virtues would be possible; manly courage seems to be a precondition for anything else worth achieving in life.

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.

MANLY definition: having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength or bravery. See examples of manly used in a sentence.

Synonyms for MANLY: male, masculine, virile, mannish, macho, manlike, man-size, hypermasculine; Antonyms of MANLY: unmanly, unmasculine, feminine, effeminate, womanly, girlish, sissy, womanish