comfort woman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, Academic, Formal, Legal, Political
Quick answer
What does “comfort woman” mean?
A euphemism for a woman or girl forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, primarily in occupied territories.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A euphemism for a woman or girl forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, primarily in occupied territories.
The term specifically refers to victims of the Imperial Japanese military's system of institutionalized sexual slavery, established in military brothels before and during WWII. It has become the standard historical and political term for this specific crime against humanity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference; the term is used identically in both varieties. Differences lie in the historical context taught and media coverage frequency.
Connotations
Identically charged with the historical context of war crimes, sexual violence, and political controversy, particularly regarding Japan's acknowledgment and apology.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media and academic discourse due to larger East Asian diaspora communities and geopolitical focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Grammar
How to Use “comfort woman” in a Sentence
[The government] acknowledged the use of comfort women.[The museum] documents the experiences of comfort women.[Historians] estimate the number of comfort women.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comfort woman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The military was found to have comfort-womened thousands of young women.
- The system aimed to comfort-women the occupied populations.
adjective
British English
- The comfort-woman issue remains a diplomatic stumbling block.
- She gave testimony about the comfort-woman system.
American English
- The comfort-woman statues are symbols of remembrance.
- He studies comfort-woman narratives and post-war justice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used extensively in historical, gender studies, legal, and East Asian studies papers discussing WWII war crimes and sexual violence in conflict.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Appears in news reports, documentaries, and historical discussions.
Technical
Used as a precise historical and legal term in international law, human rights reports, and UN documents addressing systemic wartime sexual violence.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comfort woman”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comfort woman”
- Using it as a general term for any prostitute or camp follower (it is historically specific).
- Capitalizing it as a proper noun (it is not typically capitalized unless starting a sentence).
- Using it in a non-historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the established historical term, but its euphemistic nature is widely criticized. Many scholars and activists prefer more direct terms like 'military sexual slavery victim' while using 'comfort woman' in quotes to denote the official historical terminology.
No. While a large proportion were from Korea (then under Japanese rule), victims also came from China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and other occupied territories across Asia and the Pacific.
No. It is a highly specific term confined to discussions of 20th-century history, wartime sexual violence, East Asian politics, and human rights. It would be unknown or misunderstood in general casual conversation.
The controversy centres on historical revisionism, the extent of Japanese government and military coercion, the adequacy of official apologies and reparations, and the erection of memorial statues, which remain points of intense diplomatic tension between Japan and neighbouring countries.
A euphemism for a woman or girl forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, primarily in occupied territories.
Comfort woman is usually historical, academic, formal, legal, political in register.
Comfort woman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌm.fət ˌwʊm.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌm.fɚt ˌwʊm.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: 'Comfort' is a grim irony here. Think: 'Comfort' was the official lie; 'woman' suffered the brutal reality. The term itself is part of the historical record of euphemism and denial.
Conceptual Metaphor
EUPHEMISM IS A VEIL (The term 'comfort' acts as a linguistic veil over the reality of violence). INSTITUTIONALIZED CRIME IS A SYSTEM (Referring to the 'comfort women system').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'comfort woman' primarily used?