Man vs. Men — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on June 22, 2024
Man refers to a single young human male, whereas men is the plural form, denoting multiple young human males.
Difference Between Man and Men
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Man, in its singular form, often represents an individual human male. This can be used to refer to one person specifically or to describe general qualities or actions attributed to human males. Men, on the other hand, is the plural form of man and is used to refer to more than one human male. This term is utilized when discussing groups or characteristics shared among male.
While man can sometimes function in a generic sense to denote humans in general, this usage has become less common and may be perceived as excluding women. Phrases like "mankind" exemplify this broader, albeit increasingly outdated, use. Conversely, men explicitly includes only the male members of the human species, making it clear that the reference is to multiple individuals who are male. This distinction is crucial in contexts where gender specificity is important.
Man also forms part of many compound nouns and idioms that convey roles, professions, or characteristics traditionally associated with males, such as "fireman" or "manpower." These usages highlight societal roles or attributes. Men, when mentioned in similar contexts, pluralizes these compounds and idioms, pointing to groups engaged in these roles or professions, like "firemen" or in discussions about collective efforts or characteristics.
Comparison Chart
Usage
Can denote an individual male or humans in general
Exclusively denotes multiple males
Compound Words
Forms part of compounds like "fireman"
Pluralizes compounds, e.g., "firemen"
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Generalization
Sometimes used to represent humanity
Clearly refers to the male subset of humanity
Connotation
Individuality, can imply generic human qualities
Collectivity, emphasizes the male group
Verb Agreement
Takes singular verbs
Takes plural verbs
Compare with Definitions
Man
Human Male.
The man decided to take a different path through the woods.
Men
Plural of Man (Human Males).
The men worked together to lift the heavy beam.
Man
Role Identifier.
He became a man of importance in the community.
Men
Group Characteristics.
Men around the world share many common challenges.
Man
Individuality.
Every man is responsible for his own destiny.
Men
Strength in Numbers.
The men of the village banded together to protect their homes.
Man
Symbol of Strength.
He was considered the strongest man in the village.
Men
Role Identifiers (Plural).
Those men are known as the founders of the club.
Man
Humanity (Generic).
Man has always been fascinated by the stars.
Men
Collectivity.
The men of the choir sang with deep, resonant voices.
Man
The human race; mankind
Man's quest for peace.
Men
Plural of man.
Man
A male human endowed with qualities, such as strength, considered characteristic of manhood.
Men
(collective) (The) people, humanity, man(kind).
Man
A husband.
Men
Enlisted personnel (as opposed to commissioned officers).
"Muster up the men in the barracks at 0600," the lieutenant said to his sergeant.
Man
A male lover or sweetheart.
Men
A man; one; - used with a verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite one or they.
Men moot give silver to the poure friars.
A privy thief, men clepeth death.
Man
Workers.
Men
The force of workers available
Man
Enlisted personnel of the armed forces
Officers and men.
Man
A male representative, as of a country or company
Our man in Tokyo.
Man
A male servant or subordinate.
Man
(Informal) Used as a familiar form of address for a man
See here, my good man!.
Man
One who swore allegiance to a lord in the Middle Ages; a vassal.
Man
(Games) Any of the pieces used in a board game, such as chess or checkers.
Man
(Nautical) A ship. Often used in combination
A merchantman.
A man-of-war.
Man
Often Man(Slang) A person or group felt to be in a position of power or authority. Used with the
"Their writing mainly concerns the street life—the pimp, the junky, the forces of drug addiction, exploitation at the hands of 'the man'" (Black World).
Man
To supply with men, as for defense or service
Man a ship.
Man
To take stations at, as to defend or operate
Manned the guns.
Man
To fortify or brace
Manned himself for the battle ahead.
Man
Used as an expletive to indicate intense feeling
Man! That was close.
Man
(collective) All human males collectively: mankind.
Man
(collective) All humans collectively: mankind, humankind, humanity. Sometimes capitalized as Man.
Man
A member of the genus Homo, especially of the species Homo sapiens.
Man
Manliness; the quality or state of being manly.
Man
A husband.
Man
A male lover; a boyfriend.
Man
A male enthusiast or devotee; a male who is very fond of or devoted to a specified kind of thing. Used as the last element of a compound.
Some people prefer apple pie, but me, I’m a cherry pie man.
Man
A person, usually male, who has duties or skills associated with a specified thing. Used as the last element of a compound.
I wanted to be a guitar man on a road tour, but instead I’m a flag man on a road crew.
Man
A person, usually male, who can fulfill one's requirements with regard to a specified matter.
Man
A male who belongs to a particular group: an employee, a student or alumnus, a representative, etc.
Man
(historical) A vassal; a subject.
All the king's men
Man
A piece or token used in board games such as chess.
Man
(sports) A player on whom another is playing, with the intent of limiting their attacking impact.
Man
: I, we; construed in the third person.
Man
Any person, one
Man
(transitive) To take up position in order to operate (something).
Man the machine guns!
Man
To brace (oneself), to fortify or steel (oneself) in a manly way. Compare man up.
Man
To wait on, attend to or escort.
Man
To accustom (a raptor or other type of bird) to the presence of people.
Man
A human being; - opposed to beast.
These men went about wide, and man found they none,But fair country, and wild beast many [a] one.
The king is but a man, as I am; the violet smells to him as it doth to me.
'Tain't a fit night out for man nor beast!
Man
The human race; mankind.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion.
The proper study of mankind is man.
Man
The male portion of the human race.
Woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than man to the discharge of parental duties.
Man
One possessing in a high degree the distinctive qualities of manhood; one having manly excellence of any kind.
This was the noblest Roman of them all . . . the elementsSo mixed in him that Nature might stand upAnd say to all the world "This was a man!"
Man
A term of familiar address at one time implying on the part of the speaker some degree of authority, impatience, or haste; as, Come, man, we 've no time to lose! In the latter half of the 20th century it became used in a broader sense as simply a familiar and informal form of address, but is not used in business or formal situations; as, hey, man! You want to go to a movie tonight?.
Man
A married man; a husband; - correlative to wife.
I pronounce that they are man and wife.
Every wife ought to answer for her man.
Man
One, or any one, indefinitely; - a modified survival of the Saxon use of man, or mon, as an indefinite pronoun.
A man can not make him laugh.
A man would expect to find some antiquities; but all they have to show of this nature is an old rostrum of a Roman ship.
Man
One of the piece with which certain games, as chess or draughts, are played.
Man
To supply with men; to furnish with a sufficient force or complement of men, as for management, service, defense, or the like; to guard; as, to man a ship, boat, or fort.
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall !
They man their boats, and all their young men arm.
Man
To furnish with strength for action; to prepare for efficiency; to fortify.
Man
To tame, as a hawk.
Man
To furnish with a servant or servants.
Man
To wait on as a manservant.
Man
Someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force;
Two men stood sentry duty
Man
The generic use of the word to refer to any human being;
It was every man for himself
Man
All of the inhabitants of the earth;
All the world loves a lover
She always used `humankind' because `mankind' seemed to slight the women
Man
Any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae
Man
A male subordinate;
The chief stationed two men outside the building
He awaited word from his man in Havana
Man
A male person who plays a significant role (husband or lover or boyfriend) in the life of a particular woman;
She takes good care of her man
Man
A manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer;
Jeeves was Bertie Wooster's man
Man
One of the British Isles in the Irish Sea
Man
Game equipment consisting of an object used in playing certain board games;
He taught me to set up the men on the chess board
He sacrificed a piece to get a strategic advantage
Man
Take charge of a certain job; occupy a certain work place;
Mr. Smith manned the reception desk in the morning
Man
Provide with men;
We cannot man all the desks
Common Curiosities
How does the pluralization from 'man' to 'men' affect compound words?
It changes the number, for example, from "fireman" to "firemen," indicating plurality.
Can 'man' be used to refer to humanity in general?
Yes, but this usage is becoming less common and may be seen as excluding women.
Is it grammatically correct to use 'men' when referring to a mixed-gender group?
No, "men" specifically refers to male individuals; a mixed-gender group requires different terminology.
How has the use of 'man' to refer to humanity changed over time?
It has declined due to efforts to use more inclusive language.
Are there cultural variations in the use of 'man' and 'men'?
Yes, perceptions and usage can vary across different cultures and contexts.
In what contexts might 'man' be considered a gender-neutral term?
Historically, in references to humanity, though this usage is declining.
Can 'men' be used in a non-specific way to refer to all humanity?
No, "men" specifically refers to multiple male individuals, not humanity as a whole.
Are there contexts where 'man' and 'men' are interchangeable?
No, because "man" refers to a single individual, while "men" refers to multiple individuals.
How does one correctly transition from using 'man' to 'men' in writing?
Use "man" for singular references and "men" for plural references, based on the number of individuals being discussed.
Why is it important to distinguish between 'man' and 'men'?
To ensure clarity and specificity in communication, particularly regarding number and gender.
What are some examples of idioms that include the word 'man'?
Examples include "man of his word" and "man of the hour."
What is the significance of the difference between 'man' and 'men' in gender studies?
It highlights the importance of specificity and inclusivity in language.
Can the plural form 'men' ever refer to a single individual?
No, "men" always refers to more than one individual.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
