femininity
Americannoun
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the quality of being feminine
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womanhood
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of femininity
First recorded in 1350–1400, femininity is from the Middle English word femininite. See feminine, -ity
Compare meaning
How does femininity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Femininity is a quality of acting in a typically womanly, girlish, or feminine way. Different cultures have different ideas of what femininity looks like. If you're a gentle, sweet-natured person, your grandmother may praise your femininity. You might argue, however, that your brother is even sweeter and more soft-spoken than you are. Society has a particular idea and definition of exactly what femininity is, but this varies widely for individual women. Femininity comes from the adjective feminine, "relating to women," from the Latin femina, "woman."
Vocabulary lists containing femininity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After Suez, Ms. Wheeler writes, “nothing would ever be the same again,” both for Britain and Morris, whose assumption of femininity was accompanied by increasing critical distance from the dying empire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
The content has a "right-wing, religious, largely American element", Evans, who has been accredited for six years, says, and is often framed in terms of "clean living" and "divine femininity".
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
Tradwives and mommy bloggers are characterized by a cartoonishly slick and sanctimonious femininity; they perform choreographed dances with obedient children, bake sourdough bread, offer prayers and affiliate codes in the same breath.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Zlotowski blends the posh, formal rigor of the former with the stylistic panache and sexy intrigue of the latter, but with a flair and distinct femininity that culminates in some truly breathtaking narrative detours.
From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026
Even their little sister, Gina, who was a few years younger, emanated a robust femininity that I came to think of simply as Gore-like.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
