heroine

noun

her·o·ine | \ˈher-ə-wən,

ˈhir-, ˈhe-rə-

Definition of heroine

1a : a mythological or legendary woman often of divine descent having great strength or ability

b : a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities American heroines such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks remembered as the heroine of the flood

2a : the principal female character in a literary or dramatic work the heroine of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

b : the central female figure in an event or period

Examples of heroine in a Sentence

The town remembered her as the heroine of the flood and erected a statue in her honor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Among all the talk of black bloods and gray skins and realms, there’s also the threat of a bizarre, surprise epidemic hovering over heroine Talon (Jessica Green). — refinery29.com, "All The Best Post-Apocalyptic TV Shows You Can Watch," 11 July 2018 Poverty, a sexist and racist recording industry and a terrifyingly abusive relationship — with her husband and mentor Ike Turner (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, a perceptive study in anger) — only make the show’s titanic heroine bigger and stronger. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Women Set London’s Stages Ablaze," 9 July 2018 As with many of Denis’s heroines, and Denis herself, the pleasure Dalle’s character experiences is not far from fear. — Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, "The Fearless Cinema of Claire Denis," 19 May 2018 In Season 4, Episode 13 of The Vampire Diaries, McRitchie says Caroline encapsulates the trope of a heroine in need of rescue. — Marilyn La Jeunesse, Teen Vogue, ""The Originals" Characters Klaus and Caroline Show Signs of an Abusive Relationship," 18 Apr. 2018 Comedians, storytellers, and historians share tales of unsung Windy City heroines. — Rachel Yang, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Do This A spoof of 80s teen movies and more of the best things to do in Chicago this week," 26 Mar. 2018 But the single heroines in today's popular imagination are worlds apart from Helen and Mary, and an even farther cry from their old-maid aunts. — Veronica Chambers, Newsweek, "'Sex and the City': Our 1999 Feature on the Show Starring Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker," 21 Mar. 2018 The glossy overcoat with Matrix vibes layered over matching pants and a striped sequin top from Oliver Rouseting’s Spring 2018 collection had Nyong’o looking the part of futuristic heroine. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Lupita Nyong’o Delivers a Glossy Fashion Moment in Balmain," 2 Feb. 2018 Like other women in Moshfegh’s stories, the heroine in My Year of Rest and Relaxation is unsettling. — Hope Reese, Longreads, "A Person Alone: Leaning Out with Ottessa Moshfegh," 5 July 2018

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