female

fe·male | \ ˈfē-ˌmāl

How to pronounce female (audio)

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Definition of female

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(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) : having or producing only pistils or pistillate flowers a female holly female inflorescences

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

c : characteristic of girls, women, or the female sex : exhibiting femaleness composed for female voices a female name

d : designed for or typically used by girls or women a female glove

e : engaged in or exercised by girls or women female suffrage

2 : having some quality (such as small size or delicacy of sound) associated with the female sex female castanets

3 : designed with a hollow or groove into which a corresponding male part fits the female coupling of a hose

female

Definition of female (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from female Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about female

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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.

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 In the past few years, the cycling community has worked toward equality by fighting for equal prize money and launching women’s-only gatherings like Roam Fest, which brings together 300 female-identifying mountain bikers to North Carolina each year. — Krista Langlois, Outside Online, "The Push to Get More Girls on Bikes," 12 Mar. 2020 The website said that according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, male drivers average more miles than female and are more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as not using a seat belt or driving under the influence. — Hunter Johnson, Dallas News, "Drivers in two North Texas cities need to slow down, new study says," 11 Mar. 2020 Open to all female-identifying travelers, Golightly's goal is to ensure that everyone involved agrees with the mission. — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, "Golightly Wants Women to Feel Safer In Home-Shares," 11 Mar. 2020 There were no signs of illness in its other red panda, a 9-year-old female named Sorrel, the zoo said. — USA TODAY, "Native Hawaiian princess, beer bandits, flaming hand sanitizer: News from around our 50 states," 11 Mar. 2020 The other, a 9-year-old female named Sorrel, is being closely monitored but showing no sign of illness, the zoo said. — NBC News, "Parker, endangered red panda at Alabama zoo, dies at age 4," 9 Mar. 2020 The zoo’s other red panda, a 9-year-old female named Sorrel, was examined by vet staff and showed no signs of illness. — Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al, "Red panda at Birmingham Zoo dies of unknown causes," 9 Mar. 2020 This means that not only does the male stay with the female in order to provide for and protect the chicks, but so do earlier generations of offspring. — National Geographic, "Florida scrub jay," 3 Mar. 2020 The other new cases reported Tuesday were: A female in her 40s who worked at LifeCare. — oregonlive, "2 more coronavirus deaths in Washington and 7 new cases, health officials say," 3 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The homeowner, who is described as a white female over the age of 60, has been cooperative with authorities. — Claire Goodman, Houston Chronicle, "Fort Bend County’s first animal cruelty task force seizes 227 animals in alleged hoarding case," 5 Mar. 2020 The driver, a 42-year-old Hispanic female, and passenger, a 37-year-old Hispanic male, were taken into custody. — Catherine Marfin, Dallas News, "Woman injured in Haltom City shooting," 1 Mar. 2020 Johns is described as a white female, 4 feet 10 inches tall and approximately 90 pounds. — Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Police: Kentucky woman was last seen Jan. 9, police investigating," 26 Feb. 2020 The passenger is described as a slim white female between 20 and 30 years old with long blonde hair and missing teeth. — Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free Press, "Chihuahua was only dog to survive being tossed from car. Now she's ready for a home.," 13 Feb. 2020 Tylee is described as a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing at 5′0? and weighing 160 pounds. — oregonlive, "Mother, stepfather wanted in disappearance of Idaho children found at Hawaii resort," 27 Jan. 2020 She is described as a Hispanic female, 5-feet, 1-inches tall and weighing 115 pounds. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, "Search underway for 13-year-old girl missing from Pelham," 22 Jan. 2020 The second suspect is described as a black female about 20-35 years of age standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 195 pounds, last seen wearing black and white yoga pants, black boots and a black zip-up hoodie. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Police ask for help finding two suspects who attacked an elderly man on a bus in West Allis," 14 Jan. 2020 Arenas-Foote was arrested with a 60-year-old female who police did not name. — James Burky, The Denver Post, "Man arrested in connection with Denver homicide investigation," 16 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'female.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about female

Dictionary Entries near female

female fluellin

Statistics for female

Last Updated

19 Mar 2020

Cite this Entry

“Female.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/female. Accessed 25 Mar. 2020.

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More Definitions for female

female

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of female

(Entry 1 of 2)

: of or relating to the sex that can produce young or lay eggs

: characteristic of girls or women

: having members who are all girls or women

female

noun

English Language Learners Definition of female (Entry 2 of 2)

: a woman or a girl : a female person

: an animal that can produce young or lay eggs : a female animal

: a plant that can produce seed or fruit : a female plant

See the full definition for female in the English Language Learners Dictionary

female

fe·male | \ ˈfē-ˌmāl

\

Kids Definition of female

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2 : having a pistil but no stamens a female plant

3 : of or characteristic of women or girls

female

Kids Definition of female (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a woman or a girl

2 : a person or animal that can bear young or lay eggs

3 : a plant with a pistil but no stamens

female

fe·male | \ ˈfē-ˌmāl

\

Medical Definition of female

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

Medical Definition of female (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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