effeminate

[adjective ih-fem-uh-nit; verb ih-fem-uh-neyt]

See more synonyms for effeminate on Thesaurus.com

adjective

(of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.
characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.: effeminate luxury.

verb (used with or without object), ef·fem·i·nat·ed, ef·fem·i·nat·ing.

to make or become effeminate.

Origin of effeminate

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effēminātus, equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) woman + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsef·fem·i·nate·ly, adverbef·fem·i·nate·ness, nounef·fem·i·na·tion, nounun·ef·fem·i·nate, adjectiveun·ef·fem·i·nate·ly, adverb

Can be confusedeffeminate effete feminine womanish womanly (see synonym study at womanly)

Synonyms for effeminate

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1. See female.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for effeminate

feminine, womanish, womanly, epicene, womanlike

Examples from the Web for effeminate

Contemporary Examples of effeminate

As played by Omundson, King Richard is effeminate, sincere, and ten times funnier than everyone else.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale
Melissa Leon
January 5, 2015
And did you know that effeminate men in the 18th-century were known as “mollies”?
Queer Style A History of Fashion at FIT in New York
Peter Davis
September 14, 2013
According to the sushi chef, the second son is sickly and perceived to be too effeminate to lead the country.
Kim Jong Il Names Successor
Philip Shenon
July 23, 2010
It is easy for the militias to score points by attacking groups that are universally disliked, like effeminate men, Long notes.
Iraq's Anti-Gay Pogrom
Parvez Sharma
August 16, 2009

Historical Examples of effeminate

I would say,” answered Charmidas, “that he was a mean-spirited, effeminate fellow.
The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates
Xenophon
"Effeminate,—very," muttered the old lady, as she wiped her spectacles.
Barrington
Charles James Lever
The chief gods of Sidon and Tyre have nothing luxurious or effeminate about them.
History of Religion
Allan Menzies
The soft "r" and the hard "a" were taken as proofs of effeminate hypocrisy.
In a Little Town
Rupert Hughes
They are very idle, gay and effeminate, and I fear that they will lead you astray.
The Indian Fairy Book
Cornelius Mathews

British Dictionary definitions for effeminate

effeminate

adjective

(of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly
lacking firmness or vigouran effeminate piece of writing

Derived Formseffeminacy or effeminateness, nouneffeminately, adverb

Word Origin for effeminate

C14: from Latin effēmināre to make into a woman, from fēmina woman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for effeminate

adj.

early 15c., from Latin effeminatus "womanish, effeminate," past participle of effeminare "make a woman of," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + femina "woman" (see feminine). Rarely used without reproach. Related: Effeminately.