female

1 of 2

adjective

fe·​male ˈfē-ˌmāl 

1

a(1)

: of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to bear young or produce eggs

In a field of milkweed, I watched a female monarch butterfly deposit a single egg on the underside of a leaf.

—Tom Tyning

A few months later, she became the highest paid female performer on the Great White Way.

—Susannah McCorkle

(2)

botany : having or producing only pistils or pistillate flowers

a female holly

female inflorescences

b

: having a gender identity that is the opposite of male

c

: made up of usually adult members of the female sex : consisting of females

the female workforce

d

: characteristic of girls, women, or the female sex : exhibiting femaleness

composed for female voices

a female name

e

: designed for or typically used by girls or women

a female glove

f

: engaged in or exercised by girls or women

female suffrage

female political power

g

: having a quality (such as small size or delicacy of sound) sometimes associated with the female sex

female castanets

2

of a rhyme : having an unstressed final syllable : feminine sense 4b

a female rhyme

3

: designed with a hollow or groove into which a corresponding male part fits

the female coupling of a hose

femaleness noun

female

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a female person : a woman or a girl

b

: an individual of the sex that is typically capable of bearing young or producing eggs

2

: a pistillate plant

Did you know?

In the 14th century, female appeared in English with such spellings as femel, femelle, and female. The word comes from the Latin femella, meaning “young woman, girl,” which in turn is based on femina, meaning “woman.” In English, the similarity in form and sound between the words female and male led people to use only the female spelling. This closeness also led to the belief that female comes from or is somehow related to male. However, apart from the influence of male on the modern spelling of female, there is no link between the origins of the two words.

Synonyms

Adjective

• feminine
• womanish
• womanlike
• womanly

Noun

• lady
• woman

Examples of female in a Sentence

Adjective

Most extension cords have a male plug on one end and a female plug on the other.

female standards of housekeeping imposed by the women at the vacation cottage weren't especially popular with the men

Noun

She attended a school where there were more males than females.

Females of this species weigh 8 to 10 pounds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

According to Forbes, the We Found Love hitmaker is now the world’s richest female musician, with a $1.4 billion net worth. —Jmcclain, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024

The man, 31, who attacked two female U.S. tourists close to Germany’s famed Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria last June, admitted to the crimes at the start of the trial in February. —Kate Brady, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024

Still others are having children, but giving up work, as evidenced by Italy’s female employment rate, which is the lowest in the European Union. —Alessandra Migliaccio, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024

With a deep orange sunset as the backdrop, George and the Osage Singers engaged in drum pounding and chanting as dancers in traditional clothing circled them and a ring of female singers. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024

But following last year’s omission of any female filmmaker in the category, Anatomy of a Fall’s Triet received a nomination. —Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024

Celebrity trainer Ben Bruno is proud of his female clients! —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024

So the show is fulfilling its duty, but taking the ball from one of its capable female cast members. —Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024

According to statistics from Desert & Delta, there are 98 female safari guides in Botswana today, and 57 of them came through Chobe Game Lodge. —Ann Abel, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

Noun

The female will then deposit her eggs onto the bed, and the male will fertilize them, both fish typically staying nearby until the eggs hatch. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024

The tics typically begin to manifest between the ages of 2 and 15, and males are three to four times more likely to develop the disorder than females. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024

Hippo Cove holds up to four hippos, so if one of the females gets pregnant and has a baby, then a current habitant will have to go. —The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024

Caitlin Clark is but the latest female to earn a place in this majestic line of notable accomplishment. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024

San Diego Zoo officials told The Associated Press that if all permits and other requirements are approved, the two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive by the end of summer. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024

Cameron Knight Two males and a female are in critical condition after a shooting in East Price Hill Thursday morning, police said. —The Enquirer, 29 Feb. 2024

Kamilah is a Black female with black hair and brown eyes, 5-feet-4 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024

Similarly to pigeons, flamingo male and females produce crop milk for their babies. —Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, alteration of femel, femelle, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French femele, from Medieval Latin femella, from Latin, girl, diminutive of femina

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

female

1 of 2 noun

fe·​male ˈfē-ˌmāl 

: a female plant or animal

female

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or being the sex that bears young or produces eggs

b

: having only seed-producing flowers

a female holly

2

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the female sex

b

: made up of females

femaleness noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English female "a girl or woman," an altered form of femel, femelle (same meaning), from early French femelle and Latin femella, both meaning "a girl or woman," from earlier Latin femella "a young woman, girl," from femina "woman" — related to feminine

Word Origin

In the 14th century, female appeared in English with such spellings as femel, femelle, and female. The word comes from the Latin femella, meaning "young woman, girl," which in turn is based on femina, meaning "woman." In English, the similarity in form and sound between the words female and male led people to use only the female spelling. This closeness also led to the belief that female comes from or is somehow related to male. However, apart from the influence of male on the modern spelling of female, there is no link between the origins of the two words.

Medical Definition

female

1 of 2 noun

fe·​male ˈfē-ˌmāl 

: an individual that bears young or produces eggs as distinguished from one that produces sperm

especially : a woman or girl as distinguished from a man or boy

female

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being the sex that bears young or produces eggs