virilism

[ vir-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. a female disorder in which there is development of secondary male sexual characteristics, as hirsutism and lowered voice, caused by various conditions affecting hormone regulation.

virilism

/ ˈvɪrɪˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. med the abnormal development in a woman of male secondary sex characteristics

Word History and Origins

Origin of virilism¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; virile + -ism

Example Sentences

“So if we want to go toward equality we have to attack virilism.”

From New York Times

A woman who is gonad deficient with a superior adrenal will suffer from virilism and specialize in the extreme tactics and mythology of the feminist movement.

From Project Gutenberg

He declared that men had always eaten more meat than women and that “it’s not virilism, it’s nature.”

From New York Times

If physically feminine—due to adequate feminine reactions on the part of the other endocrines—she will at least show the qualities of a psychic virilism.

From Project Gutenberg