feminist

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noun

fem·​i·​nist ˈfe-mə-nist 

plural feminists

: a person who supports or engages in feminism

Similarly, Saint Thomas's resident nun, Sister Maureen (Ann Dowd), is no girlish cutie: She's an ardent, in-your-face feminist.

—Terrence Rafferty

He [Stendhal] was a feminist and … he held that to deprive women of education 'deprives society of half its potential for intellectual achievement'.

—V. S. Pritchett

feminist

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adjective

: of, relating to, supporting, or compatible with feminism

feminist theory

the feminist movement

The act of speaking is a way women come to power, telling our stories, sharing history, engaging in feminist discussion.

—bell hooks

[Patricia] Ireland, past president of the National Organization for Women, is perhaps the best-known former Pan Am flight attendant of the '60s; seven years working for the airline helped inspire her feminist activism, which included campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment.

—Sarah Rose

Examples of feminist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But in a scenario that may be familiar to the Carpenter camp, fans and feminists alike didn’t know what to make of it and began arguing over its message. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025

The oldest celebrity on this week’s arts pick list, however, has to be Victoria Woodhull, the spirited feminist, spiritualist and advocate of free love who died 98 years ago at the age of 88. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025

Adjective

Suddenly, these Disney princesses were bona fide feminist role models! —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 11 July 2025

Despite financial insecurity, both parents encouraged their daughters to pursue their dreams, however unconventional — their feminist, progressive spirit guided Earhart like a compass. —Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing feminist

• anti-feminist
• pre-feminist
• trans exclusionary radical feminist