feminism

noun
fem·​i·​nism | \ ˈfe-mə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce feminism (audio) \

Definition of feminism

1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
2 : organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests

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Other Words from feminism

feminist \ ˈfe-​mə-​nist How to pronounce feminist (audio) \ noun or adjective
feministic \ ˌfe-​mə-​ˈni-​stik How to pronounce feministic (audio) \ adjective

Examples of feminism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The pink fantasy of Midge's inexplicably quick success, the cloying patter of her jokes, her increasingly faux-sounding feminism, is all starting to grate and frustrate rather than elicit escape. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: The marvel is wearing off in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 3," 6 Dec. 2019 This is a leaner, more spartan (yet stylish) affair than either of McG's turn-of-the-century confectionary items, its Angels lethal, its pacing relentless, and its feminism refreshingly a facet instead of the entire feature. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, "What to Watch (and Skip) in Theaters and on Netflix This Weekend," 15 Nov. 2019 Meghan Markle is highlighting her own early feminism, in the hopes of inspiring others on International Day of the Girl. Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle Shares Her Feminist Childhood Interview to Celebrate International Day of the Girl," 11 Oct. 2019 Endure them not liking you or your style, or your feminism or whatever. Sarah Menkedick, Longreads, "The First Book," 24 July 2019 But the thing that makes me most proud of the American actress and activist turned royal is her unabashed feminism, especially in her public speeches. Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Meghan Markle Writes Her Speeches Herself, Because of Course She Does," 21 Nov. 2018 Sulli, Goblin As an idol who was criticized for innocuous actions, yet remained brazenly outspoken on issues related to feminism and harassment, Sulli was a star worth admiring for reasons far beyond her artistic endeavors. Billboard Staff, Billboard, "The 25 Best K-pop Albums of 2019: Critics' Picks," 31 Dec. 2019 Waldman’s anti-hero, up-and-coming writer Nate, exemplifies the would-be progressive male intellectuals who pay lip service to feminism while merrily enjoying and perpetuating the misogyny of the literary world. Max De Haldevang, Quartz, "To be a better ally, I gave up reading books by men for 2019," 27 Dec. 2019 And the modest alterations in seams and hemlines is emblematic of many recent mainstream movies’ minimal efforts to pay lip service to feminism. Eliana Dockterman, Time, "In Frozen 2, Elsa Finally Gets to Wear the Pants. But Is a Wardrobe Change Enough?," 26 Nov. 2019

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

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First Known Use of feminism

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for feminism

see feminine entry 1

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Time Traveler for feminism

Time Traveler

The first known use of feminism was in 1841

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Statistics for feminism

Last Updated

28 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Feminism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminism. Accessed 1 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for feminism

feminism

noun
How to pronounce feminism (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of feminism

: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities
: organized activity in support of women's rights and interests

feminism

noun
fem·​i·​nism | \ ˈfe-mə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce feminism (audio) \

Kids Definition of feminism

1 : the belief that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities
2 : organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests

Other Words from feminism

feminist \ -​nist \ noun or adjective

feminism

noun
fem·​i·​nism | \ ˈfem-ə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce feminism (audio) \

Medical Definition of feminism

: the presence of female characteristics in males

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More from Merriam-Webster on feminism

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with feminism

Spanish Central: Translation of feminism

Nglish: Translation of feminism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of feminism for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about feminism

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