misogyny: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Sociopolitical
Quick answer
What does “misogyny” mean?
Hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women.
A systemic, institutional, or deeply ingrained prejudice against women, often manifesting in social structures, cultural attitudes, or individual behaviours that seek to limit, control, or demean women.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both varieties. Associated with serious social critique, feminism, and discussions of power structures.
Frequency
Equally frequent in formal/academic contexts in both regions. Increased public discourse has raised its profile in media and everyday political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “misogyny” in a Sentence
misogyny (in) + [noun phrase: society, the industry]misogyny (of) + [noun phrase: his remarks, the policy]accuse + [person/organisation] + of misogynyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misogyny” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The columnist was widely accused of misogynising his female political opponents.
- His lyrics have been criticised for misogynising women.
American English
- Critics argue the film misogynizes its female characters, reducing them to stereotypes.
- The speech was seen as an attempt to misogynize professional women.
adverb
British English
- He spoke misogynistically about his female colleagues.
- The character was written misogynistically.
American English
- The article portrayed the activist misogynistically.
- He argued misogynistically that women were unsuited for leadership.
adjective
British English
- His misogynistic views were exposed in the leaked emails.
- The club was accused of having a misogynistic culture.
American English
- The podcast host made several misogynistic remarks that sparked outrage.
- We must challenge these misogynistic social norms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically in discussions of workplace culture, glass ceilings, and gender discrimination in hiring/promotion.
Academic
Central term in gender studies, sociology, political theory, and literary criticism.
Everyday
Used in media and social discussions to critique sexist language, policies, or public figures.
Technical
In psychology/sociology, denotes a specific measurable attitude on scales like the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misogyny”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “misogyny”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misogyny”
- Confusing 'misogyny' (hatred of women) with 'misogamy' (hatred of marriage).
- Using it to describe a single sexist comment rather than a pattern/attitude.
- Misspelling as 'misogony' or 'misogany'.
- Pronouncing the 'g' as hard /g/ instead of soft /dʒ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexism is broader, referring to discrimination or prejudice based on a person's sex, and can affect any gender. Misogyny is specifically hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. All misogyny is a form of sexism, but not all sexism is misogynistic (e.g., sexism against men).
Yes. Women can internalise and perpetuate misogynistic attitudes, a concept often termed 'internalised misogyny'. This occurs when women unconsciously adopt and enforce societal prejudices against their own gender.
While 'hatred' is part of the core definition, modern usage, especially in gender studies, extends it to include deep-seated prejudice, contempt, and the systemic devaluation of women, which may not always manifest as overt, conscious hatred.
The direct antonym is 'philogyny' (love or fondness for women), but this is rare. More common conceptual opposites are 'feminism', 'gender equality', or 'egalitarianism'. The counterpart for hatred of men is 'misandry'.
Hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women.
Misogyny is usually formal, academic, sociopolitical in register.
Misogyny: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈsɒdʒɪni/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈsɑːdʒɪni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A whiff of misogyny”
- “The old misogyny”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MISOGYNY = MIS (wrong/bad/hate) + OGYNY (from Greek 'gynē' meaning woman). Think: 'Miss, ogre, knee' – an ogre kicking a woman's knee is an act of hatred.
Conceptual Metaphor
MISOGYNY IS A DISEASE/POISON (e.g., 'a pervasive poison in the culture', 'the roots of this social disease'). MISOGYNY IS A STRUCTURE/FOUNDATION (e.g., 'the misogyny underpinning the system').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'misogyny' in a formal academic context?