manshaped

Manshaped is an adjective used to describe something that has the form or silhouette of a man. It is typically employed to indicate that an object, figure, or contour resembles a human male form, whether in artistic description, natural formations, or design contexts.

In contemporary usage, the more common forms are man-shaped or human-shaped, with manshaped appearing less frequently. The term is descriptive and does not imply function or gender beyond the visual likeness of a male figure. Because it foregrounds a gendered concept embedded in the word man, writers often choose neutral alternatives such as humanoid or human-shaped when the emphasis is on form rather than gender.

Typical applications include sculptures or effigies depicting male figures, descriptions of rock or soil formations that resemble a human silhouette, and fictional or artistic creations where a male form is intended. In technology and design, practitioners more often use man-shaped or humanoid to discuss robots, avatars, or devices designed to resemble the human body in proportion and movement.

Etymology and usage notes: manshaped is formed from the combination of man and shaped, with the hyphenated form man-shaped being the more widely accepted variant in many style guides. The single-word manshaped appears in some texts but remains less standard in formal writing. When precision or neutrality is required, alternatives such as man-shaped, human-shaped, or humanoid are typically preferred.