Meaning & use

man

noun·Everyday

An adult male human being.

See it in a sentence

The man at the counter helped us find the right size.

Throughout history, man has sought to understand the natural world.

A note on using this word

Using 'man' to mean humanity in general, as in the second example, is now often avoided in favor of gender-neutral terms like 'humankind.'

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

woman

Another way to use it

2. verb

To supply personnel to operate or be present at a place or station.

Volunteers manned the phones during the fundraiser's busiest hours.

Make it your own

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