womanhood

noun

wom·​an·​hood ˈwu̇-mən-ˌhu̇d 

especially Southern ˈwō-

or ˈwə-

1

a

: the state of being a woman

b

: the distinguishing character or qualities of a woman or of womankind

2

: women, womankind

Synonyms of womanhood

• femininity
• feminity

Examples of womanhood in a Sentence

a young girl on the verge of womanhood

What is your view of womanhood?

The book is a celebration of womanhood.

Recent Examples on the Web

All three demonstrate a strong combination of personality, drive, acting acumen, and a willingness to push at Victorian-era social concepts of idealized womanhood. —Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

Inspired by the two authors' real-life childhood diaries, the show explores every stage of womanhood from growing up to getting older and laughing all the way. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Whether Barbara always had such strong feelings about womanhood or developed them in reaction to her kid’s gender nonconformity is unclear. —Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026

Discuss the psychological and emotional growth tied to the changes from girlhood into womanhood. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for womanhood

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood

Kids Definition

womanhood

noun

wom·​an·​hood ˈwu̇m-ən-ˌhu̇d 

1

: the state of being a woman

2

: qualities associated with women

3

: womankind