feminist

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

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

As feminists fought patriarchy’s attempt to render women vulnerable socially and leave us dependent on men for money and more, the all-too-human inevitability of vulnerability and dependence got lost in the muck. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Though The Lizzie Borden Story positions her as Lizzie’s feminist Virgil, Bridget’s first instinct is to kill the Bordens with poison, which was then considered to be the feminine murder weapon. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The Bangles’ electrifying 1984 debut, All Over the Place, was Sixties flower-power rock with a postpunk guitar kick and a tough-talking feminist edge. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

As an art student in the 1950s, McNeely was diagnosed with cancer, so when feminist art and discourse soon after came to center on empowerment, independence, and strength, her experience did not fit neatly in. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

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