"mannish" means: Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
mannish
Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.
Definitions
US
#1·Apr 27, 2026US
Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.
For parents
"mannish" means: Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"mannish" means: Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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US
#2·Apr 27, 2026US
(of a woman) Resembling or characteristic of a man, masculine.
She detested the look of herself in large goggles, detested being forced to tie on her hat, detested the heavy, mannish coat of rough tweed that Sir Philip insisted she must wear when motoring.
Origin: From , mannisshe, mannysh, from earlier mennish, from , from , from . .. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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US
#3·Apr 27, 2026US
(Caribbean, Guyana) Impertinent; assertive.
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Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "mannish" (M)
Maniwoodmanjomankyman modeMann Actmanniemannishnessman of cultureman-of-warman on the Clapham omnibusmanoosmanor
Browse all slang words starting with M.