effeminate
Americanadjective
-
(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)
adjective
-
(of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly
-
lacking firmness or vigour
an effeminate piece of writing
Synonym Usage
See female.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of effeminate
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēmināt-, past participle stem of effēmināre “to make feminine,” equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) “woman” + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
The word effeminate is used to describe a man or a boy with characteristics that are more often associated with females. You were once teased for your effeminate, high-pitched voice, but now you're a world-renowned singer. The adjective effeminate comes from Latin roots that mean "womanish." The term is usually meant as an insult. You once thought it was too effeminate for a man to carry a purse, but now you realize how convenient it is. Besides, you often use it to swat at anyone who makes fun of you. If you think it's effeminate to cry during sad movies, that explains why you watch them alone.
Vocabulary lists containing effeminate
Romeo and Juliet
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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What If It's Us
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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.
When I was younger, bald men were often the butt of jokes - but taking steps to regain lost hair seemed to be viewed as effeminate and vain.
From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025
As a “very, very effeminate boy” growing up in Baltimore, Ben Appel was teased mercilessly.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
From early on she was “a very effeminate child,” she said, in a video interview from her hotel room in Manchester, before her Depot Mayfield gig.
From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2022
As the effeminate, rangy Peter, 25-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee taps into a rich vein of mystery.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2022
“And I definitely knew I was gay, and there was definitely no talking about that. There were no ‘out’ students; there were kids who seemed effeminate.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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.
