adj
Common
feminine
FEH-mih-nihn
Feminine (adj) means having qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gentleness or delicacy. Example: “He admired the soft, feminine curves of the vase's design.”
adj
1
Having qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gentleness or delicacy.
"He admired the soft, feminine curves of the vase's design."
"The shop sells scarves in delicate, feminine colours."
"She has a very feminine sense of style."
2
Relating to women or the female sex.
"The magazine covers feminine health topics every month."
"Her book explores feminine voices in classic novels."
"The perfume was marketed toward a feminine audience."
3
In grammar, belonging to the gender category that includes words for female beings in languages that mark gender.
"In Spanish, most nouns ending in the letter a are feminine."
"German learners must remember whether each noun is masculine, feminine or neuter."
""La table" is feminine in French even though tables have no sex."
How to use feminine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes traits or things culturally or grammatically associated with women, as opposed to "female," which is more about biological sex.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
feminine energy
feminine noun
a feminine touch
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Word forms
- Plural
- feminines
- Comparative
- more feminine
- Superlative
- most feminine
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He admired the soft, _____ curves of the vase's design.
Etymology
From Old French feminin, from Latin femininus, from femina ("woman").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for feminine
See all rhymes for 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.
