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mac

mac

noun

fellow; bud (a familiar term of address to a man or boy whose name is not known to the speaker).
Mac

Mac

noun

a male given name.
Mac.

Mac.

abbreviation

Maccabees.
M.Ac.

M.Ac.

abbreviation

Master of Accountancy.
Mac-

Mac-

a prefix found in many family names of Irish or Scottish Gaelic origin, as MacBride and Macdonald.
MAC

MAC

abbreviation

multiplexed analogue component: a transmission coding system for colour television using satellite broadcasting

Synonyms

mac

¹ American

[mak] / mæk /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

fellow; bud (a familiar term of address to a man or boy whose name is not known to the speaker).

mac ² American

[mak] / mæk /

Or mack

noun

Informal.

a mackintosh.
McIntosh.

mac ³ American

[mak] / mæk /

noun

Mac ⁴ American

[mak] / mæk /

noun

a male given name.

Mac. ⁵ American

abbreviation

Maccabees.

M.Ac. ⁶ American

abbreviation

Master of Accountancy.

Mac- ⁷ American

Also Mc-,

a prefix found in many family names of Irish or Scottish Gaelic origin, as MacBride and Macdonald.

Mac ¹ British

/ mæk /

noun

an informal term of address to a man

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

MAC ² British

abbreviation

multiplexed analogue component: a transmission coding system for colour television using satellite broadcasting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Mac. ³ British

abbreviation

Maccabees (books of the Apocrypha)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Mac- ⁴ British

prefix

(in surnames of Scottish or Irish Gaelic origin) son of

MacDonald
MacNeice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mac ⁵ British

/ mæk /

noun

informal short for mackintosh mackintosh

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mac¹

First recorded in 1650–60; special use of Mac

Origin of mac²

Shortened form

Origin of mac³

Shortened form

Origin of Mac-⁷

< Irish, Scots Gaelic mac son, Old Irish macc; akin to Welsh, Cornish mab

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The offerings include returning items, such as a smoky burger and chicken sandwich, plus a new side — mac and cheese.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

I think the first time I went, they had a really good oxtail mac and cheese.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

I once ordered it at a chain restaurant that shall remain diplomatically unnamed, only to discover that it was functionally identical to the toddler’s mac and cheese at our table.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Just make the mac and cheese for dinner.

From Slate • Jan. 20, 2026

As if the mac and cheese was spoiled and was suddenly tying his stomach in knots.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.