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

Firth returned to the world of Austen to take on the role of barrister Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice starring Renée Zellweger as the titular heroine, Bridget Jones. —Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025

Now, the actress is a 21-year-old wife and mother, while the telekinetic heroine on TV is still 16 in the new season, according to the Stranger Things wiki page. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025

In the Terminator films, Hamilton played heroine Sarah Connor, a damsel in distress who becomes a hard-ass warrior. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

Through art and therapy, the heroine begins to unpack unsettling truths about her past in a journey of identity, forgiveness and revelations. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 25 Nov. 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