tigress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “tigress” mean?
A female tiger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A female tiger.
A woman who is fierce, strong, aggressive, or passionate; often used metaphorically to describe a woman's formidable or predatory nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is consistent. The metaphorical sense is slightly more common in British literary contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the metaphorical use can be admiring of strength or pejorative, suggesting dangerous aggression.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; higher in written descriptive texts.
Grammar
How to Use “tigress” in a Sentence
The tigress defended her cubs.She was a tigress in the courtroom.He described her as a tigress.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tigress” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The tigress prowled silently through the long grass of the enclosure.
- In the documentary, the tigress was shown teaching her cubs to hunt.
- She transformed into a veritable tigress when her authority was challenged.
American English
- The tigress at the zoo just gave birth to three healthy cubs.
- On the campaign trail, her opponents feared her tigress-like tenacity.
- He wrote of her 'tigress heart' wrapped in a graceful frame.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in hyperbolic descriptions of aggressive female executives (often considered sexist).
Academic
Zoology, biology, literary criticism.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or descriptively.
Technical
Standard term in zoology for the female of the species.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tigress”
- Using 'tiger' for a female specimen in precise zoological context.
- Misspelling as 'tigres' or 'tigresss'.
- Overusing the metaphorical sense in neutral contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the specific term for a female tiger. The female of other big cats have different terms (e.g., lioness, leopardess).
It can be, depending on context. It may be intended as a compliment on her strength, but it can also be seen as reducing her to an animalistic or stereotypically aggressive stereotype. Caution is advised.
The male is simply a 'tiger'. There is no specific male suffix like '-er' for this word.
Not standardly. The metaphorical quality is usually expressed with 'tigress-like' or 'tigrish' (though rare), e.g., 'She has a tigress-like ferocity.'
A female tiger.
Tigress is usually formal/literary in register.
Tigress: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪɡrəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪɡrəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a tigress defending her young”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Tiger' + '-ess' (feminine suffix like in 'lioness', 'actress'). A tigress is a tiger-ess.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WOMAN IS A DANGEROUS PREDATOR / A PROTECTIVE MOTHER IS A FEROCIOUS ANIMAL.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, calling a woman a 'tigress' most likely implies she is: