Standard Lemma guide

unmanly

adj · adv · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ʌnˈmænli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Showing characteristics that are not manly, such as being immature, effeminate or cowardly, which might be construed as an indicator of weakness or of baseness of character.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of or pertaining to something not human.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Not acceptable from a man.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Not becoming of a man.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Cowardly, base.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adv

Meaning 6

In a manner that is unmanly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective

Meaning 7

not possessing qualities befitting a man

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unmanful, unmanlike

Antonyms: manly

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pusillanimous, poor-spirited

Antonyms: none provided

9

adverb

Meaning 9

without qualities thought to befit a man

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unmanfully

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English manly English unmanly From un- + manly.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: немъжествен (nemǎžestven) — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Dutch: onmannelijk — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Finnish: epämiehekäs — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • French: efféminé — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Georgian: არამამაკაცური (aramamaḳacuri) — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Georgian: არაკაცური (araḳacuri) — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Ancient Greek: ἄνανδρος (ánandros) — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Hungarian: férfiatlan — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Irish: mífhearúil — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Swedish: omanlig — (of a person) not manly: immature, effeminate or cowardly, etc.
  • Bulgarian: страхлив (strahliv) — (of a behaviour or action) Cowardly, base.
  • French: lâche — (of a behaviour or action) Cowardly, base.
  • Hungarian: férfiatlan — (of a behaviour or action) Cowardly, base.
  • Finnish: epämiehekkäästi — in a manner that is unmanly
  • Swedish: omanligt — in a manner that is unmanly