Beta Male
A submissive male
Example
So many of the men I meet on dating apps are beta males
Beta male definition by Slang.net
This page explains what the slang term "Beta male" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.
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A beta male, or beta, is a guy who shows submissive or passive characteristics. Alpha males may describe males they consider weak or inferior as "betas."
Women may also use the term "beta" to refer to men who don't lead well. For example, if a man dislikes taking initiative or making decisions, a girl might call him a beta male.
Origin of beta male
The slang term "beta male" originates from L. David Mech's zoological hierarchy theory from the 1960s about packs of wolves where a wolf takes the place of the "alpha," leading the pack, whereas "beta" wolves submit to the alpha's leadership. Some psychologists and authors began applying this theory to human social hierarchies, especially in dating contexts, despite the intricacies of human personalities and behavior.
The theory's popularity increased significantly in the 2010s on social media, where users found it helpful to categorize people (primarily men) as alpha or beta personalities. Now, you may hear or see people describe romantic compatibility through the alpha/beta lens (especially online in forums or social sites like Reddit and X) or as a general criticism to put down men who lack traditional leadership characteristics, such as strength, confidence, and assertiveness.