newswoman
Medium-LowFormal to neutral, primarily journalistic; less common in casual speech where 'reporter' or 'news presenter' is preferred. Can sound slightly dated or deliberately gender-specific.
Definition
Meaning
A woman who presents news programs on television, radio, or other media.
A female journalist or reporter, especially one who appears on camera or broadcasts news. The term emphasizes gender and is sometimes used to highlight a woman's role in a historically male-dominated field, though it is increasingly considered dated in favor of neutral terms like 'news presenter' or 'reporter'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically denotes a woman in a news broadcasting role. Unlike 'journalist', which can include writers and editors, 'newswoman' typically implies an on-air presence. The male counterpart is 'newsman'. The term is not typically used for print journalists.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties, though slightly more common in American English. The trend toward gender-neutral language ('news presenter', 'anchor') is strong in both.
Connotations
In both, it can carry connotations of professionalism and authority. May also imply a focus on the individual's gender, which can be either neutral, positive (highlighting achievement), or slightly archaic.
Frequency
Low-frequency in contemporary corpora. 'News presenter', 'anchor', 'reporter', or 'journalist' are far more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The newswoman [verb: reported/announced/interviewed] [object].[Adjective] newswoman [verb].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used only in media industry discussions about on-air talent.
Academic
Rare; used in media studies or gender studies when specifically analyzing representation.
Everyday
Low; most speakers would say 'news presenter' or 'reporter on the TV'.
Technical
Used in television production and media criticism to specify gender.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The newswoman is on TV.
- The newswoman reported on the election results last night.
- The veteran newswoman conducted a tough interview with the minister.
- Critics praised the newswoman's incisive commentary, though some questioned the need for such gender-specific terminology in modern media.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'NEWS' + 'WOMAN' = a woman who delivers the news.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROFESSION IS A GENDER-SPECIFIC ROLE (cf. policeman, chairman).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'новостная женщина' (calque). The direct Russian equivalent 'диктор' (newsreader) or 'ведущая новостей' is gender-specific but not a direct compound.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a print journalist. Using it in plural as 'newswomen' (correct but very rare). Confusing it with 'newsworthy'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'newswoman' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's of medium-low frequency and considered somewhat dated. Gender-neutral terms like 'news presenter', 'anchor', or 'reporter' are more common in modern usage.
A 'newswoman' specifically refers to a woman who presents or reports news on broadcast media (TV, radio). A 'journalist' is a broader term that includes reporters, writers, editors, and correspondents across all media (print, online, broadcast), and is not gender-specific.
Yes, it can be used for a female news presenter or reporter on radio, though it is more strongly associated with television.
The direct male equivalent is 'newsman'. Like 'newswoman', it is also less common than neutral terms like 'news presenter' or 'anchor'.