fem·i·nine
ˈfe-mə-nən 
1
a
: considered to be characteristic of women
stereotypically feminine traits/characteristics
feminine charm/beauty
: marked by or having qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with women
… the actress gave the classic black-and-white tuxedo a feminine spin with a Ralph Lauren jumpsuit. Accessories included diamond necklaces and earrings, black pumps, and a black bow tie.—
Chelsey Sanchez
Chelsey SanchezWhile traditionally considered feminine, floral scents are gaining popularity in men's fragrances.—The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
b
: of, relating to, or being a woman or girl
(dated) the feminine [=female] members of the family
"She was like a feminine version of Mick Jagger," says Sheryl Crow, a good friend and collaborator …—Jada Yuan
Jada Yuan
also
: of, relating to, or intended for women or girls
feminine empowerment
feminine sexuality
(dated) This classification includes all feminine [=women's] garments commonly known as lounge or hostess wear … —Federal Register
Federal Register
c
: of or relating to feminine hygiene
feminine products
2
grammar
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender (see gender entry 1 sense 1a) that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to females as well as other words and forms either systematically or arbitrarily in the same category
The word for "cat" is feminine in German (die Katze) and masculine in Spanish (el gato).
3
a
poetry
: being an unstressed and usually additional final syllable after the final complete foot (see foot entry 1 sense 4) in a line of verse
a feminine ending
b
of rhyme
: having an unstressed final syllable
4
of a musical cadence
: ending on an unaccented beat
a short, wistful piece ending with a feminine cadence
femininely
adverb
compare masculine
plural feminines
1
grammar
a
: a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the feminine (see feminine entry 1 sense 2) gender
b
: the feminine (see feminine entry 1 sense 2) gender
2
a
: the embodiment or conception of an idealized feminine nature
the power of the divine feminine
b
: the set of qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with women
… art that celebrates women but also confronts and explores representations of the feminine.—Samantha Cooper
Samantha Cooper… Ellen in her fine suit of black, with her cloak and high-heeled boots, looking, in every respect, like a young gentleman; in an hour after having dropped her male attire, and assumed the habiliments of her sex the feminine only was visible in every line and feature of her structure.—William Still
William Stillcompare masculine
Synonyms
Examples of feminine in a Sentence
Adjective
The book examines the subject from a feminine perspective.
They've added some feminine touches to the decor.
The feminine form of the Spanish adjective “lindo” is “linda.”
Noun
The feminine of the Spanish adjective “lindo” is “linda.”
Recent Examples on the WebAlexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
The result further exposes the torso in its most vulnerable feminine places, while accelerating the figure’s spatial turn.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for feminine 
Adjective
Amour Vert Violette Organic Cotton Eyelet Dress Flowy, flirty dresses add a feminine touch to an otherwise rather masculine trend.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
The result further exposes the torso in its most vulnerable feminine places, while accelerating the figure’s spatial turn.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for feminine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feminine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near feminine
Cite this Entry
“Feminine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminine. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
feminine
1 of 2 adjective
fem·i·nine
ˈfem-ə-nən
1
: of the female sex
2
: characteristic of or belonging to women : womanly
3
: of, relating to, or making up the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to females
a feminine noun in Latin
femininely
adverb
feminineness
noun
femininity
noun
ˌfem-ə-ˈnin-ət-ē
feminine
2 of 2 noun1
: a word or form of the feminine gender
2
: the feminine gender
Medical Definition
feminine
adjective
fem·i·nine
ˈfem-ə-nən
1
: female
2
: characteristic of or appropriate or peculiar to women
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