feminine

American  

[fem-uh-nin] / ˈfɛm ə nɪn /

adjective

1. being or relating to to a woman or girl.

   feminine beauty;

   feminine dress.

2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to women, such as sensitivity or gentleness.

3. effeminate; womanish.

   Growing up, he had been told he had a feminine walk.

4. Grammar. noting or pertaining to that one of the three genders of Latin, Greek, German, etc., or one of the two genders of French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., having among its members most nouns referring to females, as well as other nouns, as Latin stella “star,” or German Zeit “time.”

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noun

Grammar.

1. the feminine gender.

2. a noun or other element in or marking the feminine gender.

feminine British  

/ ˈfɛmɪnɪn /

adjective

1. suitable to or characteristic of a woman

   a feminine fashion

2. possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a woman

3. effeminate; womanish

4. grammar

   1. denoting or belonging to a gender of nouns, occurring in many inflected languages, that includes all kinds of referents as well as some female animate referents

   2. ( as noun )

      German Zeit ``time'' and Ehe ``marriage'' are feminines

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Related Words

See female.

Other Word Forms

• antifeminine adjective
• antifemininely adverb
• antifeminineness noun
• femininely adverb
• feminineness noun
• half-feminine adjective
• hyperfeminine adjective
• hyperfemininely adverb
• hyperfeminineness noun
• overfeminine adjective
• overfemininely adverb
• pseudofeminine adjective
• superfeminine adjective
• ultrafeminine adjective
• unfeminine adjective
• unfemininely adverb

Etymology

Origin of feminine

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English femynyn(e), from Anglo-French, Old French: feminine of adjective feminin, from Latin fēminīnus, equivalent to fēmin(a) “woman” ( fetus ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Via the speakers, a feminine voice says, “Once again, this is a totally full flight. Please place personal items under your seat and use the first available overhead space for your larger carry-on.”

From Literature

With “Marie Antoinette” I got to really indulge my feminine side.

From Salon

The company will only say product lines that could be targets include feminine and adult care, and baby and child care.

From The Wall Street Journal

But through all of its muddled schlock, Gyllenhaal’s film never once loses its distinctly feminine ambition, and that makes “The Bride!” a far more faithful “Frankenstein” adaptation than any made by a man.

From Salon

Tibi had become a brightly colored, boldly printed, feminine line — not because that was me, but because the stores wanted it.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• female
• femalelike
• gentle
• soft
• tender
• womanish
• womanlike
• womanly