heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən How to pronounce heroine (audio) ˈhir- How to pronounce heroine (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though the film’s primary love story is between the cellmates, there are also the relationships playing out in the fictional movie musical set within the movie, which stars Lopez as an actress playing both the unlucky-in-love heroine and the diabolical Spider Woman of the title. Jenelle Riley, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 As Bella and Edward become closer, our young heroine not only romanticizes the vampire's ethereal good looks, but also the dominance and constant surveillance of his courtship. USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 Now, after 10 years of perfect sweetness, the brand is ready to adult-up, as Agnès Varda’s heroine Cléo did while impatiently awaiting her medical diagnosis. Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025 Take a film’s heroine, for example. Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heroine

Word History

Etymology

Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heroine was in 1587

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heroine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroine. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

heroine

noun
her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən How to pronounce heroine (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on heroine

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