feminine
6 antonyms and opposites of feminine, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Having qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gentleness or delicacy.
Antonyms
How to use feminine
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French feminin, from Latin femininus, from femina ("woman").
Full origin of feminine →Frequently asked questions
What does “feminine” mean?
The word “feminine” means having qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gentleness or delicacy. In plain terms, describes traits or things culturally or grammatically associated with women, as opposed to "female," which is more about biological sex.
How do you pronounce “feminine”?
“Feminine” is pronounced FEH-mih-nihn (/ˈfɛmɪnɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “feminine” in a sentence?
Here is “feminine” used in a sentence: “She has a very feminine sense of style.”
What is another word for “feminine”?
Words with a similar meaning to “feminine” include caring, ladylike, nurturing, beauty, fem and femme.
What is the opposite of “feminine”?
The opposite of “feminine” — its antonyms — are male, manly, butch, masculine and neuter.
What part of speech is “feminine”?
“Feminine” is an adjective.
Where does the word “feminine” come from?
The word “feminine” comes from Latin. From Old French feminin, from Latin femininus, from femina ("woman").
Is “feminine” a common word?
“Feminine” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "feminine" and "female"?
"Female" refers to biological sex and applies to people, animals, and plants, as in "a female cat". "Feminine" describes qualities, styles, or behaviours traditionally associated with women, so a person of any sex can be described as feminine.
What is the difference between "feminine" and "womanly"?
Both relate to qualities associated with women, but "womanly" usually suggests the qualities of a mature, adult woman. "Feminine" is broader, can describe delicacy or softness at any age, and is also used as a grammatical term.
How is "feminine" used as a grammatical term?
In grammar, "feminine" is a gender category used in languages that mark gender, and it includes words for female beings along with many other nouns. For example, in French "la table" (the table) is grammatically feminine even though a table has no sex.
What is the difference between "feminine" and "masculine"?
"Feminine" describes qualities traditionally linked with women, while "masculine" describes qualities traditionally linked with men. In grammar they are two contrasting gender categories, and they are commonly treated as opposites.