Beefcake

/ˈbiːfkeɪk/ noun

Definition

A muscular man, especially one who is attractive or famous for his physique; or photographs or images of such men.

Etymology

American slang from the 1930s combining 'beef' (muscles/strength) with 'cake' (something attractive or desirable), similar to how 'cheesecake' referred to attractive photos of women.

Kelly Says

This quirky word shows how American slang often creates food metaphors for attractive people—we've called women 'cheesecake' and men 'beefcake,' revealing how differently male and female attractiveness was commercialized.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.