Can a woman be a misogynist?

Yes, though less common. The term describes holding misogynistic beliefs, regardless of the holder's gender. This is sometimes called 'internalised misogyny'.

What's the difference between a 'sexist' and a 'misogynist'?

All misogynists are sexist, but not all sexists are misogynists. 'Sexist' describes discriminatory beliefs based on gender. 'Misogynist' is stronger, implying a deep-seated hatred or intense contempt specifically for women.

Is 'misogynist' only used for individuals?

Primarily, but it can be used attributively to describe systems, cultures, ideologies, or language (e.g., 'misogynist ideology', 'misogynist trope').

What is the related noun for the system of ideas?

The related noun is 'misogyny' (the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women). 'Misogynist' is a person who practices or upholds misogyny.

misogynist

UK/mɪˈsɒdʒɪnɪst/US/mɪˈsɑːdʒɪnɪst/

formal, academic, critical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A person who hates or strongly dislikes women.

A person holding or expressing deep-seated prejudices, contempt, or ingrained prejudice against women, often manifesting in discriminatory attitudes or behaviour.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term carries a strong pejorative and condemnatory force. It describes an ingrained attitude or belief system, not just a single sexist remark. It is often used in critiques of social systems, ideologies, or historical figures.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage patterns are nearly identical.

Connotations

Universally negative and strong in both varieties.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in public discourse in recent years due to increased focus on gender equality; equally used in academic contexts in both regions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

avowed misogynistnotorious misogynistvirulent misogynistunapologetic misogynist

medium

accused of being a misogynistcondemn the misogynistmisogynist attitudesmisogynist views

weak

called a misogynistlabelled a misogynistbehaviour of a misogynist

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[be/consider/label] + NP + a misogynistmisogynist + [beliefs/ rhetoric/ behaviour]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

woman-hateranti-feminist

Neutral

sexistmale chauvinist

Weak

chauvinist (in specific contexts)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

philogynist (rare)feministegalitarianwomen's rights advocate

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“No specific idioms. Commonly appears in set phrases like 'misogynist pig' (very informal, derogatory).”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in discussions of workplace discrimination, hostile environments, or leadership critiques (e.g., 'allegations of a misogynist culture at the firm').

Academic

Central in gender studies, sociology, philosophy, and literary criticism to analyse texts, historical periods, or ideologies.

Everyday

Used in serious discussions about gender politics, media representation, or personal behaviour, though it is a strong accusation.

Technical

Used in psychology and sociology to describe a specific type of prejudicial personality or belief system.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The verb 'misogynise' is extremely rare and not standard. Use 'express misogyny' or 'behave misogynistically'.

American English

The verb 'misogynize' is virtually non-existent in standard usage.

adverb

British English

He spoke misogynistically about his female colleagues.
The character was written misogynistically.

American English

The policy was misogynistically biased against single mothers.
He argued misogynistically that women were unsuited for leadership.

adjective

British English

He was criticised for his misogynistic comments during the interview.
The article exposed the club's deeply misogynist culture.

American English

Her misogynistic boss created a hostile work environment.
The film was criticized for its misogynist undertones.

Examples

By CEFR Level

That man is a misogynist.

She said her former boss was a real misogynist who never promoted women.

The philosopher's earlier writings, though brilliant, are often dismissed today for their blatantly misogynist underpinnings.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Break it down: 'MISO-' sounds like 'miss' but comes from Greek for 'hatred', and '-GYN-' relates to 'women' (as in gynaecology). So, a misogynist has hatred for women.

Conceptual Metaphor

WOMEN ARE INFERIOR (a deeply flawed object/subclass). PREJUDICE IS A DISEASE/TOXIC SYSTEM (implied by the term's use for ingrained attitudes).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid confusing with 'мизантроп' (misanthrope - a hater of humankind).
The direct Russian equivalent 'женоненавистник' is formal and less common in casual speech than the English term is in its contexts.
Do not use 'сексист' (sexist) as a perfect synonym; 'misogynist' is stronger and more specifically hateful.

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'misogynyst' or 'misoginist'.
Using it to describe simple, occasional sexism rather than a deep-seated prejudice.
Confusing with 'misandrist' (one who hates men).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

His views, which held women in contempt, made him unsuitable for the role in the equality commission.

Multiple Choice

Which term is most closely associated with 'misogynist'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, though less common. The term describes holding misogynistic beliefs, regardless of the holder's gender. This is sometimes called 'internalised misogyny'.
: All misogynists are sexist, but not all sexists are misogynists. 'Sexist' describes discriminatory beliefs based on gender. 'Misogynist' is stronger, implying a deep-seated hatred or intense contempt specifically for women.
: Primarily, but it can be used attributively to describe systems, cultures, ideologies, or language (e.g., 'misogynist ideology', 'misogynist trope').
: The related noun is 'misogyny' (the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women). 'Misogynist' is a person who practices or upholds misogyny.