femininity

[ fem-uh-nin-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality of being feminine; womanliness.
2. women collectively.
3. effeminacy.

femininity

/ ˌfɛmɪˈnɪnɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being feminine
2. womanhood

Other Words From

• hyper·femi·nini·ty noun
• over·femi·nini·ty noun
• super·femi·nini·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of femininity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, femininity is from the Middle English word femininite. See feminine, -ity

Example Sentences

She argues that regulations that exclude DSD athletes will also hurt female runners who don’t conform to conventional ideals of femininity.

From Outside Online

Every act of difference from society’s prescribed model of femininity had to be suppressed.

From Time

In other words, there was nothing about the initial introduction that would have indicated that it would become a game really strongly associated with femininity and with women within a few years.

From Time

To these women, the military symbolized the ideal versions of masculinity and femininity.

From Washington Post

For women, in particular, there is this idea that femininity is tied to your hair.

From Ozy

One of the ways Fincher and his screenwriter Gillian Flynn accomplished this feat of “femininity” was to give Amy agency.

From The Daily Beast

Bratis, who trained in Athens, creates pieces of “femininity and pure elegance without artifice.”

From The Daily Beast

The Big Apple influenced the industry by introducing a more practical look combined with the existing femininity.

From The Daily Beast

To men, long hair on a woman is a turn-on because it signifies fertility and clichéd ideas of femininity.

From The Daily Beast

Once I was pregnant, I embraced my own femininity and settled into my role as decision maker and proprietor.

From The Daily Beast

Comes of living alone and making a success of it, I suppose, getting ahead of mere femininity and all the pettinesses of life.

From Project Gutenberg

We have exquisite types of femininity in Tuscany, said the young man, with patriotic ardor.

From Project Gutenberg

Mayo stared after her, wrinkling his forehead for a moment, as if he had discovered some new vagary in femininity to puzzle him.

From Project Gutenberg

Her amazing fortitude at the time when he had looked for hysterics and collapse gave him new light on the enigma of femininity.

From Project Gutenberg

At six o'clock in fluttered Elizabeth, a vision of elegant femininity in her soft furs and plumes and trailing skirts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gentleness
• womanhood