Sigma male (or simply sigma) is a term in internet slang used most often to describe the archetype of a male who is a "lone wolf".[1][2] While the name is a product of manosphere message boards in the 2010s, the term has gained widespread prominence within internet culture, and since the early 2020s, has become an internet meme.[3] Commonly regarded as the "rarest" type of male,[4] a sigma male is typically denoted as an archetype of a male who is similar to the alpha male. Unlike an alpha male, sigma males are more introverted and seek to dominate themselves, in other words "self-mastery".
On social media, the term is often used to describe the idolization of masculine characters from films and TV shows, or celebrities.[5] Alternatively, the term has taken on an ironic and satirical meaning, mocking the concept of the manosphere and the sigma grindset.[6]
In 2023, #sigma gained over 46 billion views on the social media platform TikTok.[7]