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

Getty Images Madelaine Petsch is the actor/redhead/villain/heroine/human of my dreams. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "Madelaine Petsch Uses This $14 Eyebrow Gel," 16 July 2018 The first act ends with the heroine’s madness and death, one of the most celebrated acting scenes in ballet. — New York Times, "They’ve Come Undone: Giselle, Lucia and Romantic Madness," 10 May 2018 At first, the adventures of ’80s video game villain Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and ’00s racer game heroine Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) seem largely disconnected or plot-driven. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Ralph Breaks the Internet is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but for the internet," 21 Nov. 2018 She’s been criticized for dismissing the experiences of women of color and trans women, and yet, is hailed as one of the movement’s strongest heroines. — Allison Mcgevna, Glamour, "A Year Later, Is the #MeToo Movement Stuck in Hollywood?," 5 Oct. 2018 But the decision as to which shoes a heroine will wear lies with the director. — April Wolfe, chicagotribune.com, "The tortured history of action-film heroines and their high heels ('Jurassic World,' anyone?)," 22 June 2018 Thanks to Rhimes, viewers were prompted to think about the joys and challenges of interracial love, and the dangers of unmitigated power—all through the eyes of a heroine whose many flaws only amplified her significance. — Tanisha C. Ford, The Atlantic, "The Episode That Captured the Best and Worst of Scandal," 19 Apr. 2018 Courtesy of Abrams Coco longed for beautiful clothes and was captivated by a description of a heroine’s lavender dress with ruffles. — Susan Goldman Rubin, Time, "Coco Chanel's Fascination With Fashion Started Early in Life," 13 Mar. 2018 Liza Minnelli notwithstanding, anyone who plays Sally like a high-kicking superstar rather than a washed, tragically aspirational heroine should be viewed with suspicion. — K. Austin Collins, HWD, "How Michelle Williams Steals the Show from Amy Schumer in I Feel Pretty," 23 Apr. 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.