Meanings
- uncountablemedia criticismhuman sciencesThe aspects of traditional masculinity perceived to reinforce aggression, emotionlessness and other negative qualities.
The facts of toxic masculinity are rarely discussed after mass shootings, as we beat the usual drums of gun control and mental health.
2016 June 27, Stephen T. Asma, “The weaponised loser”, in Aeon, archived from the original on 20 Nov 20162 more examples
For example, I speak of toxic masculinity as that which damages men, women, children and the earth through neglect, abuse and violence.
1990 January 18, Shepherd Bliss, “Letters (Gay Supportive)”, in Bay Area Reporter, volume XX, number 3, San Fransisco: Benro Enterprises, page 8In addition, many male feminists seek to rid themselves of what they regard as toxic masculinity promoted in men by socialization and to develop in themselves sensitivities and tenderness more typically socialized into women.
2005, Eli Sagan, Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender & and Culture, Wadsworth, →ISBN, page 302
Origin
Coined by psychologist Shepherd Bliss of the mythopoetic men's movement around 1986 and first attested in 1990 (see quote below). Compare hegemonic masculinity, which was coined in 1982.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic الذُّكُورَة السَّامَّة
- الذُّكُورَة السَّامَّةtoxic masculinity
Catalan masculinitat tòxica
- masculinitat tòxicatoxic masculinity
Chinese Mandarin 有毒的男性氣質 /有毒的男性气质
- 有毒的男性氣質 /有毒的男性气质 (yǒudú de nánxìng qìzhì)toxic masculinity
Estonian toksiline maskuliinsus
- toksiline maskuliinsustoxic masculinity
Finnish toksinen maskuliinisuus
- toksinen maskuliinisuustoxic masculinity
French masculinité toxique
- masculinité toxiquetoxic masculinity
German toxische Männlichkeit, giftige Männlichkeit
- toxische Männlichkeittoxic masculinity
- giftige Männlichkeittoxic masculinity
Polish toksyczna męskość
- toksyczna męskośćtoxic masculinity
Portuguese masculinidade tóxica
- masculinidade tóxicatoxic masculinity
Russian токсичная маскулинность, токси́чная му́жественность
- токсичная маскулинность (toksičnaja maskulinnostʹ)toxic masculinity
- токси́чная му́жественность (toksíčnaja múžestvennostʹ)toxic masculinity
Spanish masculinidad tóxica
- masculinidad tóxicatoxic masculinity
Ukrainian токсична маскулінність
- токсична маскулінність (toksyčna maskulinnistʹ)toxic masculinity
Cite this entry
toxic masculinity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20masculinity
“toxic masculinity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20masculinity. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “toxic masculinity,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/toxic%20masculinity.
Source: toxic masculinity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.