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

Slater’s bright, smiling heroine reflected the Christopher Reeve films, while Calle’s was an alternate universe version of Cavill’s dour Superman, and Benoist’s was a wholesome, Clark Kent-like reporter. —Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 11 July 2025

The film’s superstitious heroine, AP (Sriram), is having her fortune told by a psychic in flowing robes and a matching huge headpiece (a delicious cameo from Big Freedia), who diagnoses the curse and the $1,000 solution to reverse it. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 11 July 2025

By the end, its heroine has undergone a radical transformation and asserted her independence. —Claire Jarvis, New Yorker, 8 July 2025

The red-robed heroines of Gilead walked in unison down a street after a night of mayhem with sirens blaring in the background. —Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 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