female

American  

[fee-meyl] / ˈfi meɪl /

adjective

1. having or relating to a gender identity that corresponds to a complex, variable set of social and cultural roles, traits, and behaviors assigned to people of the sex that typically produces egg cells.

2. 1. Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.

   2. Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure that produces or contains elements requiring fertilization.

   3. Botany. (of seed plants) pistillate.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a female person; feminine: female charm.

   female suffrage;

   female charm.

4. comprising female people.

   a female readership.

5. Machinery. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits.

   a female plug.

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noun

1. a female person.

2. Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.

female British  

/ ˈfiːmeɪl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a woman

   female charm

3. for or composed of women or girls

   female suffrage

   a female choir

4. (of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes

5. (of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction

6. (of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens

7. having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitted

   a female thread

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noun

1. 1. a female animal or plant

   2. derogatory a woman or girl

female Scientific  

/ fē′māl′ /

1. In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is larger and less motile than the other corresponding gamete (the male gamete) of the same species. The egg cells of higher animals and plants are female gametes.

2. Possessing or being a structure that produces only female gametes. The ovaries of humans are female reproductive organs. Female flowers possess only carpels and no stamens.

3. Having the genitalia or other structures typical of a female organism. Worker ants are female but sterile.

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1. A female organism.

Usage

Some women are offended by being called “a female” when this word is used as a noun. Its use by men, particularly in sexual or romantic contexts, may be especially problematic.

Related Words

See woman. Female, feminine, effeminate are adjectives that describe women and girls or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Female, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is often used as a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to produce offspring in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with male in all uses: her oldest female relative; the female parts of the flower. Feminine refers essentially to qualities or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with women and girls. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as delicacy, gentleness, gracefulness, and patience: to dance with feminine grace; a feminine sensitivity to moods. Feminine is also, less frequently, used to refer to physical features: a lovely feminine figure; small, feminine hands. Effeminate is most often applied derogatorily to men or boys, suggesting that they have character or behavior traits culturally believed to be appropriate to women and girls rather than to men: an effeminate horror of rough play; an effeminate speaking style. See also womanly.

Other Word Forms

• antifemale adjective
• femaleness noun
• unfemale adjective

Etymology

Origin of female

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, variant (by association with male ) of femelle, from Anglo-French femaile, female, femell, Old French femel(l)e, from Latin fēmella, diminutive of fēmina “woman” ( -elle ); in Vulgar Latin developing the sense “female of an animal”

Explanation

The female animals are the ones who can have babies. They’re not males. Girls and women are female humans, but there are male and female animals of all kinds. Just ask Noah. Female animals are those that produce ova, which are fertilized by the spermatozoa of males. The main difference between females and males is that females bear the offspring — and that goes for dogs, chickens, catfish, and anything in between. There are even male and female squash flowers. The word female is used equally as a noun and an adjective. For example, the female lead in a play is inevitably a female.

Example Sentences

But she said there is room for more female hosts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Now there’s a freshman female sprinter, Aliza Rush, who could bring lots of attention in the coming years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Bertei explains that she went to a screening of his early film “Permanent Vacation,” and was struck by the differences between the male lead and one of the female characters.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Since 2000, just a dozen women or female groups have launched a country single into the Hot 100’s top 10, according to Billboard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

The final instruction was to assist four female embassy clerks in traveling to London.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• childbearing