The “ubersexual male” is likely a buzz phrase you’ve heard floating around, and if you haven’t, feel free to pull up a chair and join us for this quick masterclass.

The ubersexual male has become the ideal figure that men around the world are aspiring to be, combining the best qualities of traditional manly men with the elegant personality of a well-cultured man. Still unsure of what that even means? Don’t worry, we’ll go into more detail later on. But first, let’s get into some history.

The Rise of Ubersexual

Coined “word of the year” in 2003, the metrosexual man swept center stage with his self-care routines and rigorous health regimens. But as of late, the ubersexual male is replacing the metrosexual male aesthetic of the early 2000s and onwards, bringing back the traditional male ideals.

Both ubersexual and metrosexual are terms coined and popularized by marketing and advertising executive Marian Salzman, who details the terms (alongside two co-authors) in her book The Future of Men. The authors chose “uber” as the term’s descriptor because of its connotations for being the best. They said that “in our view, these men are the most attractive (not just physically), most dynamic, and most compelling men of their generations.” Ubersexuals go above and beyond what’s expected in order to live a fulfilling, extravagant life. They’re essentially the real-life superheroes that we see in movies and comic books.

What Is a Ubersexual Man?

A ubersexual male (as defined by Urban Dictionary) is one that displays the traditional qualities we associate with heterosexual men, such as confidence and strength, which leaves little to no doubt about their sexual orientation. The ubersexual man – according to Salzman and her two co-authors Ira Matathia and Ann O’Reilly – is a resemblance of the men from yesteryear, exhibiting qualities such as strength, fairness, and confidence in themselves.