feminine
C1Neutral to formal. Used in everyday, academic, and technical contexts. Can be descriptive or evaluative.
Definition
Meaning
Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with women; of or characteristic of women or female beings.
Pertaining to the female grammatical gender in some languages; (archaic) of or relating to women; in design, having delicate, graceful, or soft qualities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term often contrasts with 'masculine' and is central to discussions of gender, identity, linguistics, and sociology. Its connotations are highly context-dependent and can range from purely descriptive to stereotypical or prescriptive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. 'Ladylike' is a more traditional near-synonym used similarly in both variants.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry stereotypical associations. In feminist and gender studies discourse, its essentialist use is critically examined. No significant divergence in core connotations.
Frequency
Comparatively high and similar frequency in both varieties, especially in social sciences, fashion, and design contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be/look/seem feminineto consider something feminineto have a feminine qualityto associate X with the feminineVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the eternal feminine”
- “feminine wiles”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing and branding (e.g., 'a feminine scent', 'products for a feminine audience').
Academic
Central in gender studies, sociology, and linguistics (grammatical gender).
Everyday
Used to describe people, appearance, behaviour, or style (e.g., 'She has a very feminine style').
Technical
In linguistics, refers to a grammatical gender category. In prosody, 'feminine rhyme' refers to a disyllabic rhyme.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- She dressed femininely for the occasion.
- No common usage.
American English
- The design was executed femininely and with great care.
- No common usage.
adjective
British English
- The décor was light and feminine.
- In French, 'table' is a feminine noun.
American English
- She preferred a more feminine cut to her jacket.
- The poet often used feminine rhyme schemes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her dress is very feminine.
- The word 'actress' is feminine.
- He was attracted to her feminine grace.
- In Spanish, 'casa' (house) is a feminine noun.
- The brand is trying to appeal to a more feminine demographic.
- The sculpture emphasised feminine curves in a modernist style.
- The critique deconstructed traditional notions of the feminine ideal.
- The poem's use of feminine endings created a lingering, melancholic rhythm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FEMale' and 'femININE' – they share the first three letters and core meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEMININITY IS SOFTNESS/GRACE/DELICACY (e.g., 'feminine curves', 'a feminine touch').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'феминистский' (feminist). 'Feminine' is 'женственный' or 'женский' (как род).
- In Russian, 'женский' can mean both 'female' (biological sex) and 'feminine' (qualities). English often distinguishes 'female' (biological) from 'feminine' (social/cultural).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'female' as an adjective for qualities (e.g., 'He has a female style' is incorrect; use 'feminine').
- Confusing 'feminine' (adj) with 'feminist' (n/adj).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical collocation with 'feminine'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Female' typically refers to biological sex, while 'feminine' refers to qualities, appearance, or behaviours traditionally associated with women. Something can be female (e.g., a female scientist) without being described as feminine in style.
Yes, it can be used to describe men who exhibit qualities traditionally associated with women (e.g., 'He has a feminine mannerism'). The related term 'effeminate' is often used specifically for men in this context, sometimes with a negative connotation.
A feminine rhyme is a disyllabic rhyme (a rhyme involving two syllables), where the final syllable is unstressed (e.g., 'motion' / 'ocean', 'ending' / 'bending').
It is a standard, neutral descriptive term. However, its use can be sensitive because it may reinforce gender stereotypes. Context is key. In academic gender studies, the distinction between 'sex' (female/male) and 'gender' (feminine/masculine) is crucial.