heroine

[her-oh-in]

noun

1. a woman noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.

   Esther and other biblical heroines.

2. a woman who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal.

   Name two women who have been heroines in your life.

3. the principal female character in a story, play, film, etc.

heroine

/ ˈhɛrəʊɪn /

noun

1. a woman possessing heroic qualities

2. a woman idealized for possessing superior qualities

3. the main female character in a novel, play, film, etc

Gender Note

See hero.

Other Word Forms

• superheroine noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heroine¹

1650–60; < Latin hērōīnē < Greek hērōī́nē, feminine of hḗrōs hero; -ine ²

Example Sentences

Once or twice the fictional heroine was tossed off, to land with her face in the fictional dirt.

Read more on Literature

It was nearly the size of a pony, although there was little about it to suggest that it might someday become the beloved, beribboned best friend of some wolf-loving fictional heroine.

Read more on Literature

And the additional running time also allows for two brand new songs -- one of which, "The Girl in the Bubble," sees Ariana Grande's popular, pink-clad heroine Glinda confront her unlikely dark past.

Read more on Barron's

Douglas Century’s “Crash of the Heavens” brings to life the headstrong, charismatic heroine who was both a fearless warrior and a precocious writer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some think the floundering and flawed heroine, who's fixated with her weight and relationship status, is not the best role model.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• beau ideal 
• eidolon 
• epitome 
• example 
• exemplar 
• good example www.thesaurus.com
• icon 
• ideal 
• idol 
• model 
• paragon 
• person to look up to www.thesaurus.com
• role model 
• shining example www.thesaurus.com