female

[ fee-meyl ]

adjective

1. having or relating to a gender identity that corresponds to a complex, variable set of social and cultural roles, traits, and behaviors assigned to people of the sex that typically produces egg cells.
2. 1. Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.
   2. Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure that produces or contains elements requiring fertilization.
   3. Botany. (of seed plants) pistillate.
3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a female person; feminine: female charm.

   female suffrage;

   female charm.

4. comprising female people:

   a female readership.

5. Machinery. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits: Compare male ( def 5 ).

   a female plug.

noun

1. a female person.
2. Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.

female

/ ˈfiːmeɪl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a woman

   female charm

3. for or composed of women or girls

   female suffrage

   a female choir

4. (of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes
5. (of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction
6. (of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens
7. having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitted

   a female thread

noun

1. 1. a female animal or plant
   2. a woman or girl

female

/ fē′māl′ /

Adjective

1. In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is larger and less motile than the other corresponding gamete (the male gamete) of the same species. The egg cells of higher animals and plants are female gametes.
2. Possessing or being a structure that produces only female gametes. The ovaries of humans are female reproductive organs. Female flowers possess only carpels and no stamens.
3. Having the genitalia or other structures typical of a female organism. Worker ants are female but sterile.

Noun

1. A female organism.

Usage Note

Some women are offended by being called “a female” when this word is used as a noun. Its use by men, particularly in sexual or romantic contexts, may be especially problematic.

Derived Forms

• ˈfemaleness, noun

Other Words From

• fe·male·ness noun
• an·ti·fe·male adjective
• un·fe·male adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of female¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, variant (by association with male ) of femelle, from Anglo-French femaile, female, femell, Old French femel(l)e, from Latin fēmella, diminutive of fēmina “woman” ( -elle ); in Vulgar Latin developing the sense “female of an animal”

Word History and Origins

Origin of female¹

C14: from earlier femelle (influenced by male ), from Latin fēmella a young woman, from fēmina a woman

Synonym Study

See woman. Female, feminine, effeminate are adjectives that describe women and girls or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Female, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is often used as a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to produce offspring in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with male in all uses: her oldest female relative; the female parts of the flower. Feminine refers essentially to qualities or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with women and girls. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as delicacy, gentleness, gracefulness, and patience: to dance with feminine grace; a feminine sensitivity to moods. Feminine is also, less frequently, used to refer to physical features: a lovely feminine figure; small, feminine hands. Effeminate is most often applied derogatorily to men or boys, suggesting that they have character or behavior traits culturally believed to be appropriate to women and girls rather than to men: an effeminate horror of rough play; an effeminate speaking style. womanly.

Example Sentences

Girls’ schools shuttered, women were barred from public spaces and female professionals were told not to return to work.

From New York Times

But for me, as a female actor, I just always assume that if you are the one at home, then they’re not really going to follow you.

From Los Angeles Times

“A Real Pain” “Payal Kapadia’s tender ‘All We Imagine as Light’ won the Grand Prix prize at Cannes for its visually sensual portrait of female friendship in Mumbai.

From Los Angeles Times

In many of those places, especially in the early days, L7 was one of the few bands — if not the only band — that was all female.

From Los Angeles Times

“And no one believed us, that we were just a male and female best friend who wanted to do something fun over the summer.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• girl
• mother