effeminate

[ adjective ih-fem-uh-nit; verb ih-fem-uh-neyt ]

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.
2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.:

   effeminate luxury.

verb (used with or without object)

, ef·fem·i·nat·ed, ef·fem·i·nat·ing.

1. to make or become effeminate.

effeminate

/ ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt /

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly
2. lacking firmness or vigour

   an effeminate piece of writing

Derived Forms

• efˈfeminacy, noun
• efˈfeminately, adverb

Other Words From

• ef·femi·nate·ly adverb
• ef·femi·nate·ness noun
• ef·femi·nation noun
• unef·femi·nate adjective
• unef·femi·nate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of effeminate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēmināt-, past participle stem of effēmināre “to make feminine,” equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) “woman” + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of effeminate¹

C14: from Latin effēmināre to make into a woman, from fēmina woman

Synonym Study

See female.

Example Sentences

Refusing to develop the necessary people skills to get ahead because you think it's effeminate will keep you from moving ahead.

From Salon

It’s as if we couldn’t possibly glean anything meaningful from old-school comedians who were apolitical and effeminate, steppingstones for contemporary comedians, like Hannah Gadsby and Jerrod Carmichael, who are willing to wait for a room to quiet down so they can talk about difficult childhoods.

From New York Times

A typical if slightly effeminate adolescent Jewish boy, California version.

From Los Angeles Times

Depicting East Asian men as "effeminate rice eaters" was used as a justification for European colonial rule in Asia in the 1800s and for later stoking anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S.

From Salon

“I didn’t have great hand-eye coordination. I was lanky, awkward and clumsy with effeminate mannerisms,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times