leading man

noun

: an actor who plays the leading male role

Examples of leading man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Remembering Robert Redford Robert Redford, the legendary leading man with boyish good looks and charm who used his star power to advocate for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights, has died at age 89. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025 Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Mark Ruffalo and many other celebrities are mourning the loss of the Oscar-winning director and Hollywood leading man. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 Robert Redford, the golden-haired leading man whose progressive politics informed his choices over a 60-year career, died on Tuesday morning at his home in Utah. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025 Although the film received mixed reviews, his performance solidified his reputation as a leading man. Hannah Parry amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leading man

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leading man was in 1827

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Cite this Entry

“Leading man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20man. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

leading man

noun
: an actor who plays the leading male role in a play or movie

More from Merriam-Webster on leading man

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