feminine

[ fem-uh-nin ]

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.”

noun

, Grammar.

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

feminine

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfemininely, adverb
• ˈfeminineness, noun

Other Words From

• femi·nine·ly adverb
• femi·nine·ness noun
• anti·femi·nine adjective
• anti·femi·nine·ly adverb
• anti·femi·nine·ness noun
• half-femi·nine adjective
• hyper·femi·nine adjective
• hyper·femi·nine·ly adverb
• hyper·femi·nine·ness noun
• over·femi·nine adjective
• over·femi·nine·ly adverb
• pseudo·femi·nine adjective
• super·femi·nine adjective
• ultra·femi·nine adjective
• un·femi·nine adjective
• un·femi·nine·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of feminine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of feminine¹

C14: from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina woman

Synonym Study

See female.

Example Sentences

The uproar has extended into broader grievances about women being short-changed by feminine hygiene products, which have a history of safety scandals in China.

From BBC

She is a contradiction: an aristocratic woman who has abandoned feminine expectations to battle in the dirt.

From Salon

It was very much something that made me feel so empowered, so feminine, so confident.

From Los Angeles Times

Bean fantasies of bland feminine beauty is truly astounding.

From Salon

It allowed me to bring a vulnerable, feminine charm that is organic, and humble and apologetic.

From Salon

Related Words

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