female

[ fee-meyl ]

See synonyms for: female females femaleness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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. : See Usage note at gender¹
- Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.: See Usage note at sex¹
- Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure that produces or contains elements requiring fertilization.
- Botany. (of seed plants) pistillate.

of, relating to, or characteristic of a female person; feminine: female suffrage;female charm.
comprising female people: a female readership.
Machinery. being or having a recessed part into which a corresponding part fits: a female plug.: Compare male (def. 5).

noun

a female person.: See Usage note at the current entry.
Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces egg cells during reproduction.

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” (see -elle); in Vulgar Latin developing the sense “female of an animal”

synonym study For female

6. See woman. 1-4. 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.

usage note For female

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.

Other words from female

fe·male·ness, noun
an·ti·fe·male, adjective
un·fe·male, adjective

Words that may be confused with female

female , feminine (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words Nearby female

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use female in a sentence

Rakefet Russak-Aminoach was one of the sector’s rare female CEOs until June 2019 when she stepped down as CEO of Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank by market cap.
Why one of the world’s few female bank CEOs decided to step down | Claire Zillman, reporter | September 16, 2020 | Fortune
When a pregnant female mouse smells an unfamiliar male mouse, her body terminates the pregnancy, and she becomes able to conceive with the new male relatively quickly.
The Dark Side of Smart - Facts So Romantic | Diana Fleischman | September 15, 2020 | Nautilus
Last year, I wrote about why Wall Street’s big banks had never had a female CEO.
New Citi CEO Jane Fraser gives Wall Street banks a fresh perspective | Claire Zillman, reporter | September 11, 2020 | Fortune
The studio, the lone major studio headed by a woman in Donna Langley, also led in female directors, writers and producers, as well as lead roles from underrepresented groups.
Despite some gains in the past year, Hollywood still has inclusion problems, study says | radmarya | September 10, 2020 | Fortune
Directors with CEO experience—a requirement that has shut out many female and nonwhite candidates—made up 50% of new board members last year, down from 60% the year prior.
Nearly half of open board seats went to women in 2019. Only 23% were filled by people of color | ehinchliffe | September 10, 2020 | Fortune

While 19 percent of the House is female, just one woman will get to chair one of its 20 committees.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress | Dean Obeidallah | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
An escort who goes by the name of “Tommy” has experienced a wide variety of female clients.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex | Aurora Snow | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Are the standards for female beauty in Hollywood ridiculous?
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It | Kevin O’Keeffe | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A male and female who do most of the mating dominate packs, and younger subordinates only breed occasionally.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family | Helen Thompson | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A flightless, juvenal female was obtained by local boys at Pisté on July 21.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula | Erwin E. Klaas
Now what should college give the young citizen, male or female, upon the foundation of schooling we have already sketched out?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Her female friend immediately said, "Well, I have been talking away to this dumb man."
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
It was no female head that was thrust in at the partially opened door, but the long black locks and red face of Mr. Stiggins.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles Dickens
In these rooms male and female alike were confined, at one time to the number of fifteen; each being allowed 3d.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for female

female

/ (ˈfiːmeɪl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a woman: female charm

for or composed of women or girls: female suffrage; a female choir
(of reproductive organs such as the ovary and carpel) capable of producing female gametes
(of gametes such as the ovum) capable of being fertilized by a male gamete in sexual reproduction
(of flowers) lacking, or having nonfunctional, stamens
having an internal cavity into which a projecting male counterpart can be fitted: a female thread

noun

- a female animal or plant
- derogatory a woman or girl

Origin of female

C14: from earlier femelle (influenced by male), from Latin fēmella a young woman, from fēmina a woman

Derived forms of female

femaleness, noun

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

Scientific definitions for female

female

[ fē′māl′ ]

Adjective

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.
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.

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

Noun

A female organism.

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