female suffrage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Academic/Historical Context)Formal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “female suffrage” mean?
The right of women to vote in political elections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The right of women to vote in political elections.
The broader historical movement, advocacy, and legislation focused on securing voting rights for women.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'female suffrage'. In the UK, 'women's suffrage' is equally common. The US term is almost exclusively 'women's suffrage'.
Connotations
Carries strong historical and political connotations of social struggle and democratic reform.
Frequency
'Women's suffrage' is significantly more frequent than 'female suffrage' in modern usage in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “female suffrage” in a Sentence
The campaign for female suffrage...The granting of female suffrage...A key figure in the female suffrage movement...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “female suffrage” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The female suffrage campaign was a pivotal moment in British history.
American English
- She was a leading female suffrage activist.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used.
Academic
Common in historical, political science, and gender studies texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing history or politics.
Technical
Used in political history and constitutional law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “female suffrage”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “female suffrage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “female suffrage”
- Using 'feminine suffrage' (incorrect). Confusing 'suffrage' with 'suffering'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to suffrage').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms, though 'women's suffrage' is the more common modern term.
In stages: 1918 for women over 30 who met property qualifications, and 1928 for all women over 21 (equal to men).
A term, often used historically, for a woman who campaigned aggressively for the right to vote, particularly in the UK.
No, 'suffrage' means the right to vote in general. It can be universal suffrage, male suffrage, etc. 'Female/women's suffrage' specifies the group.
The right of women to vote in political elections.
Female suffrage is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Female suffrage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfiːmeɪl ˈsʌfrɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfiːmeɪl ˈsʌfrɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The battle for the ballot”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Female' + 'suffrage' (suffering for the right to vote). Women suffered and fought for the suffrage.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUFFRAGE IS A BATTLE / A JOURNEY (e.g., 'the long road to female suffrage', 'a hard-won victory').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'female suffrage' specifically refer to?