adjective
Uncommon
butch
buuch
Butch (adjective) means Noticeably masculine in appearance or manner, especially describing a woman. Example: “She had a butch style, all boots and cropped hair.”
adjective
1
Noticeably masculine in appearance or manner, especially describing a woman.
"More of the rotten responses I receive about being a bisexual butch woman come from other bisexuals, particularly men, who don't want to deal with any woman who is not some Barbie doll standard of femininity."
— Naomi S Tucker, Bisexual Politics: Theories (2014)
"She had a butch style, all boots and cropped hair."
noun
1
A lesbian who presents in a masculine way.
"She identifies as butch and prefers traditionally masculine clothing."
How to use butch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTough, masculine-presenting — commonly used within lesbian communities to describe a masculine style or identity.
When to use it
Can be neutral or affectionate within LGBTQ+ communities but can read as a stereotype outside that context.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like butch.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- butches
- Third person singular
- butches
- Past tense
- butched
- Comparative
- butcher, more butch
- Superlative
- butchest, most butch
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She had a _____ style, all boots and cropped hair.
Etymology
Probably originally short for "butcher"; the meaning "masculine lesbian" developed in the 1940s.
Class of 1940
butch joined the language around 1940.
See the full Class of 1940 →
Related words
Rhymes for butch
See all rhymes for butch →Frequently asked questions
What does “butch” mean?
The word “butch” means noticeably masculine in appearance or manner, especially describing a woman. In plain terms, tough, masculine-presenting — commonly used within lesbian communities to describe a masculine style or identity.
How do you pronounce “butch”?
“Butch” is pronounced buuch (/bʊt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “butch” in a sentence?
Here is “butch” used in a sentence: “She had a butch style, all boots and cropped hair.”
What part of speech is “butch”?
Depending on how it is used, “butch” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “butch” come from?
The word “butch” dates back to around 1940. Probably originally short for "butcher"; the meaning "masculine lesbian" developed in the 1940s.
Is “butch” a common word?
“Butch” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “butch” have?
“Butch” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: noticeably masculine in appearance or manner, especially describing a woman.
