effeminate

American  

[ih-fem-uh-nit, ih-fem-uh-neyt] / ɪˈfɛm ə nɪt, ɪˈfɛm əˌneɪt /

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.

2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc..

   effeminate luxury.

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verb (used with or without object)

effeminated, effeminating

1. to make or become effeminate.

effeminate British  

/ ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt /

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly

2. lacking firmness or vigour

   an effeminate piece of writing

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Related Words

See female.

Other Word Forms

• effeminacy noun
• effeminately adverb
• effeminateness noun
• effemination noun
• uneffeminate adjective
• uneffeminately adverb

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

Example Sentences

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

“I didn’t have great hand-eye coordination. I was lanky, awkward and clumsy with effeminate mannerisms,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

How he began winning dance battles, but remained an outlier — too weird, at times too effeminate, too willing to go where others feared.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2022

But the bobcats had always scared him with their now-guttural, now-piercing and effeminate, bloodcurdling screams.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols