femme fatale

noun

femme fa·​tale ˌfem-fə-ˈtal 

ˌfam-, 

-ˈtäl 

plural femmes fatales ˌfem-fə-ˈtal(z) 

ˌfam-, 

-ˈtäl(z)

1

: a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations

2

: a woman who attracts men by an aura of charm and mystery

Synonyms of femme fatale

• siren

Examples of femme fatale in a Sentence

an actress who was often cast as cynical, sexy femmes fatales

Recent Examples on the Web

The Sabich case became an absolute sensation in the media, not just in America but also globally, and Longet was internationally labeled Aspen’s femme fatale. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026

Inside the fairgrounds she’s known as Venus Electrificata, a flapper femme fatale perched atop a low-voltage platform, ready to deliver a mild shock to any punter willing to spend a few francs for a kiss. —Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026

Namasenda appeared on the cover of 2021’s Unlimited Ammo as a femme fatale straight out of The Matrix, a leather catsuit clinging to her body. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026

And like any good femme fatale, Maddy is given savvy at the expense of moral scruple. —The Editors, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, disastrous woman

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for femme fatale

• duopoly
• melancholy
• musicale
• pulmonale
• triticale
• akali
• bengali
• diwali
• loblolly
• naphtali
• nepali
• secale