noun
Common
feminist
FEH-muh-nihst
Feminist (noun) means a person who supports feminism — the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men. Example: “My aunt is a proud feminist who campaigns for fair pay at work.”
noun
1
A person who supports feminism — the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men.
"My aunt is a proud feminist who campaigns for fair pay at work."
"Many feminists argue that housework should be shared equally at home."
"She has identified as a feminist since college."
adj
1
Relating to or supporting feminism.
"Feminist struggle takes place anytime anywhere any female or male resists sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression."
— bell hooks, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (2000)
"She wrote a feminist essay about equal opportunities in school sport."
"The group holds a feminist reading circle every other Thursday evening."
"The novel is often read as an early feminist text."
How to use feminist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) aligned with the feminist movement for gender equality.
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Word forms
- Plural
- feminists
- Comparative
- more feminist
- Superlative
- most feminist
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My aunt is a proud _____ who campaigns for fair pay at work.
Etymology
First attested in 1852, the word ultimately comes from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina ("woman"); see also feminine and feminism.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for feminist
See all rhymes for feminist →Frequently asked questions
What does “feminist” mean?
The word “feminist” means a person who supports feminism — the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men. In plain terms, someone (or something) aligned with the feminist movement for gender equality.
How do you pronounce “feminist”?
“Feminist” is pronounced FEH-muh-nihst (/ˈfɛmənɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “feminist” in a sentence?
Here is “feminist” used in a sentence: “She has identified as a feminist since college.”
What part of speech is “feminist”?
Depending on how it is used, “feminist” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “feminist” a common word?
“Feminist” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “feminist” have?
“Feminist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who supports feminism — the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men.
What is the difference between a feminist and feminism?
Feminism is the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men. A feminist is a person who supports that belief, so feminism names the idea while feminist names the person who holds it.
Can feminist be used as an adjective?
Yes. Besides naming a person, feminist works as an adjective meaning relating to or supporting feminism, as in "feminist literature," "a feminist movement," or "feminist ideas."
Can men be feminists?
Yes. A feminist is anyone who supports feminism, the belief that women should have equal rights and opportunities to men, so the term applies to people of any gender who hold that view.
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