weatherwoman
LowNeutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
A female meteorologist who presents weather forecasts on television or radio.
A female professional in meteorology, often recognized on-screen, who analyzes and communicates weather data to the public. The term can also refer more broadly to any woman working in broadcast meteorology, regardless of on-air status.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is gender-specific. Its usage has declined in more formal or progressive contexts in favor of gender-neutral terms like 'meteorologist' or 'weather presenter'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties, but 'weather presenter' or 'meteorologist' is increasingly preferred in the UK. In the US, 'meteorologist' is the dominant professional term, with 'weatherwoman' used informally or in specific contexts (e.g., local news).
Connotations
Can carry slightly informal or dated connotations. In modern usage, it may be perceived as unnecessarily gendered.
Frequency
More frequent in informal spoken contexts and media reporting than in professional meteorological discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the weatherwoman [verb: said/reported/forecast] that...weatherwoman for [name of channel/region]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; 'meteorologist' or 'forecasting specialist' is standard.
Academic
Avoided in scientific writing; 'meteorologist' is the correct term.
Everyday
Used informally to refer to a woman seen presenting weather on TV.
Technical
Not used; the gender-neutral 'meteorologist' denotes the profession.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The weatherwoman said it will rain tomorrow.
- I saw the weatherwoman on TV.
- Our local weatherwoman is very popular because her forecasts are usually accurate.
- The weatherwoman explained that the high pressure system would bring sunny skies.
- After training as a meteorologist, she became the chief weatherwoman for the national broadcaster.
- The veteran weatherwoman used detailed radar maps to track the storm's path.
- While the term 'weatherwoman' persists in casual parlance, many in the field prefer the gender-neutral title 'broadcast meteorologist'.
- Her groundbreaking work as a weatherwoman in the 1980s paved the way for more women in technical broadcast roles.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A woman who tells you whether to take an umbrella.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEATHER PRESENTER IS A GUIDE (through the atmospheric conditions).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'погодоженщина'. Use 'метеоролог' (meteorologist) or 'диктор погоды' (weather presenter).
- The gendered suffix '-woman' is not productively used in Russian compound nouns.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'weatherwomen' as singular (correct singular: weatherwoman).
- Spelling as 'weather woman' as two separate words.
- Overusing the term in formal contexts where 'meteorologist' is appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In a formal scientific context, which term is most appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used informally and in media, but the professional title is 'meteorologist' or 'broadcast meteorologist'.
The standard plural is 'weatherwomen'.
Its usage is declining as many organisations and individuals move towards gender-neutral language, preferring 'weather presenter' or 'meteorologist'.
Yes, many women presenting the weather are qualified meteorologists with scientific backgrounds, though the term 'weatherwoman' itself does not inherently convey that scientific status.