woman
WUU-muhn
Woman (noun) means an adult female human. Example: “She grew from a shy girl into a confident woman.”
noun
1
An adult female human.
"the first woman president of Spain"
"She grew from a shy girl into a confident woman."
"There was a pair of burly dwarves – a woman and a man – bearing the markings of the formidable Thane Guards."
— Oisin McGann, Kings of the Realm: Cruel Salvation (2014)
"The woman at the front desk smiled and handed me a key."
"A young woman waited at the bus stop with her umbrella."
2
Women collectively.
"The march was a powerful statement by woman and man alike."
"Woman has long been a central figure in the novelist's work."
"The exhibition explores how woman has been portrayed in art."
How to use woman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn adult human female.
Common mistake
Plural is "women" (pronounced differently from the singular), not "womans".
Common pairings
a young woman
women's rights
the women in her life
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Word forms
- Plural
- women
- Third person singular
- womans
- Past tense
- womaned, womanned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grew from a shy girl into a confident _____.
Etymology
From Old English wīfmann, literally "female person" — a compound of wīf ("woman", the ancestor of "wife") and mann ("person").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for woman
Oman
roman
Loman
yeoman
ottoman
madwoman
catwoman
saleswoman
chairwoman
policewoman
councilwoman
businesswoman
See all rhymes for woman →
Frequently asked questions
What does “woman” mean?
The word “woman” means an adult female human. In plain terms, an adult human female.
How do you pronounce “woman”?
“Woman” is pronounced WUU-muhn (/ˈwʊmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “woman” in a sentence?
Here is “woman” used in a sentence: “She grew from a shy girl into a confident woman.”
What is another word for “woman”?
Words with a similar meaning to “woman” include lady, female, more at Thesaurus:woman, babe, baggage and bim.
What is the opposite of “woman”?
The opposite of “woman” — its antonyms — are man and girl.
What part of speech is “woman”?
“Woman” is a noun.
Where does the word “woman” come from?
The word “woman” comes from Old English. From Old English wīfmann, literally "female person" — a compound of wīf ("woman", the ancestor of "wife") and mann ("person").
Is “woman” a common word?
“Woman” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a woman and a girl?
The difference is age and maturity. A woman is an adult female human, while a girl is a female child or young person who has not yet reached adulthood. The transition is gradual and shaped by culture, but 'woman' signals that someone is grown, independent, and no longer a child.
What is the plural of woman?
The plural of 'woman' is 'women.' Only the first vowel changes in spelling and sound: one woman, two women. The 'a' becomes an 'e' in writing, and the first syllable shifts from a 'wu' sound to a 'wi' sound. It is an irregular plural, so no 's' is added.
Is it 'woman' or 'women'?
Use 'woman' for one person and 'women' for two or more. 'Woman' is singular; 'women' is plural. A common mistake is writing 'a women' or 'many woman,' both of which are incorrect. Match the form to the number: one woman, several women.
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