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

First-party Nintendo games get confirmed dates In an initially confusing teaser, Metroid heroine Samus Aran appeared in the direct riding a bad ass sci-fi motorcycle in what looked like an entirely new game. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

In Chicago, the heroine, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), envisions herself in musical numbers, a vibrant inner fantasy come to life. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

Who was the superior puppeteer of would-be lovers and young heroines who stuck to their principles? —Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025

There’s always that moment, early on, when the hero or heroine realizes what’s happened to them and is cosmically jarred, hit by the awareness that there’s no going back. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Sep. 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