Main Entry:

wom·an

Pronunciation:

\ˈwu̇-mən, especially Southern ˈwō- or ˈwə-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural wom·en \ˈwi-mən\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English wīfman, from wīf woman, wife + man human being, man

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: an adult female person b: a woman belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) —usually used in combination <councilwoman>2: womankind3: distinctively feminine nature : womanliness4: a woman who is a servant or personal attendant5 achiefly dialect : wife b: mistress c: girlfriend 2

— woman adjective

— wom·an·less \-ləs\ adjective