heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən  ˈhir- 

ˈhe-rə-

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

My Husband is a time-travel drama where the heroine dies after being betrayed by her husband and best friend, then returns to the past to take revenge. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Under an inflatable shell, they would be made of mycelium, a root-like fungal structure, something of an alternative building material heroine, lauded for its durability; versatility; and water-, mold-, and fire-resistant properties. —Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025

Riri Williams, who suits up as the titular heroine of the new Marvel Cinematic Universe series Ironheart, insists that her plans are much grander than flying around in a suit of armor inspired by Iron Man’s. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025

My heroine, Pauline, is French, so is her mother, Marcelle. —Tatiana De Rosnay june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for heroine

• heroin

Kids Definition

heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən 

1

: a woman in legends or myths who has great courage and daring

2

: a woman admired for her achievements and qualities

3

: the chief female figure in a literary work or in an event or period