feminine

CEFRB2

/ˈfɛmɪnɪn/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Having qualities traditionally associated with women or girls.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Belonging to females; typically used by females.

Examples

  • She has a feminine insight into human behavior.

  • Feminine caesura, feminine catalexis, feminine ending, feminine rhyme.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Of or pertaining to the female gender.

  2. Of or pertaining to the female sex; biologically female, not male.

  3. Having the qualities stereotypically associated with women: nurturing, not aggressive, sensual; womanly.

More examples

In context
  • Mary, Elizabeth, and Edith are feminine names.

  • Ellie is very feminine.

  • Susie wasn't very feminine.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

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Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English feminine, femynyne, femynyn, from Old French feminin, feminine, from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina (“woman”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-eh₂ (“(the one) nursing, breastfeeding”). Related to fetus, feminism, filial, fellatio.