leading man

noun

Synonyms of leading mannext
: 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.
Former Heat guard Kendrick Nunn, who has carved out a career as a leading man in Greece, made clear in a recent social-media post that feelings remain for Miami. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 The one-two punch of White Nights and the following year’s Big Deal on Madonna Street cemented him as one of the country’s great leading men; La Dolce Vita wasn’t far behind. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026 In Fortune’s book, Chiu’s character, the best friend of Matt Cornett’s leading man, plays a much smaller role, which allowed the actor some space to find his own Jordie. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026 Kane is coming home to be a supporting actor, not the leading man. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 23 July 2026 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

Rhymes for leading man

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Browse Nearby Words

leadingly
leading man
leading mark
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Cite this Entry

“Leading man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20man. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

leading man

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

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