alpha male

plural alpha males

1. ethologybiologyThe dominant male in a group of animals.
2. broadlyA dominant, assertive, protective, oftentimes successful, leadership-type man or male.First known use 1990s

   The alpha male, is lucky in this regard, since he has a gang and while he must protect them all

   year unknown, Wings Of Success, How to Attract Anything You want in Life, page 32

   5 more examples

   Alpha male investing Aggressive stock-picker on the prowl for less risky financial plan Stanley Richards may have been a latecomer to investing, but he's made up for lost time by aggressively buying

   2000 Feb, Black Enterprise, Alpha Male Investing, volume 30, number 7, page 54

   This alpha-male status gives him the highest opportunity to mate with many of the best genetic examples of the females in his liking

   2007, Paul Dobransky, L. A. Stamford, The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love, link

   Nadal is supposedly the alpha male in any slugfest. But Rosol's forehand shots were being sent towards the Majorcan at 93mph plus, and his was the fastest serve at 134mph.

   2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in the Guardian

   Fàbregas is having a lapse in form and Costa seems so preoccupied with alpha-male aggro it possibly distracts him from the rather more important task of beating the opposition goalkeeper.

   2015 March 12, Daniel Taylor, “Chelsea out of Champions League after Thiago Silva sends 10-man PSG through on away goals”, in The Guardian (London)

   Maybe the supposed human alpha male is a combination of disgruntled male wish fulfilment and borderline-pseudoscientific justification for resorting to bullying, intimidation and generally all-round unpleasant behaviour by men hoping to impose their will on a world they find too complex and unnerving so revert to their baser instincts to get what they want, despite knowing deep down they don’t deserve it and shouldn’t have it?

   2016 October 10, Dean Burnett, “Do alpha males even exist?”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: alpha, male alpha · Antonyms: omega male

comparative more alpha male · superlative most alpha male

1. Exhibiting the characteristics of a dominant male; dominant, assertive, and protective.

   You don't get more alpha male than this, I thought.

   2012, Ben Evans, Tragedy and Triumph in Orbit, page 78