womanhood

wom·an·hood | \ ˈwu̇-mən-ˌhu̇d

How to pronounce womanhood (audio)

, especially Southern ˈwō- or ˈwə- \

Definition of womanhood

1a : the state of being a woman

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

2 : women, womankind

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about womanhood

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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 The show refuses an intersectional approach to feminism—treating womanhood as an identity that overlaps with other identities like class, race, and sexuality. — Jenny Singer, Glamour, "If You’re Missing Live Theater Right Now, Stream I Hate Suzie," 25 Nov. 2020 That gave her the power to escape the confines of Cherry Hill and suburban womanhood that her mother never left behind. — Arthur Lubow, New York Times, "Jona Frank: Between Reality and Fantasy," 26 Oct. 2020 Sitting at the intersection of Blackness and womanhood and battling both race and gender stereotypes, this definition bears closer proximity to the Black female experience, as Damola humorously put it. — Elisabeth Fapuro, refinery29.com, "We Need To Talk About The Pressure Of Black Excellence," 20 Oct. 2020 With my personhood in question, my womanhood was hardly considered. — Kiera Allen, Glamour, "Kiera Allen Was Afraid of Being Too Much—Until Run Came Along," 8 Dec. 2020 Bradley, a southern, Black woman professor currently shaping minds and building new futures at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, has located her work at the intersections of Blackness, womanhood, and southern Hip-Hop. — Kirsten West Savali, Essence, "White Man Hired To Narrate Southern Black Woman Scholar’s Essay Turns Brilliant Black Art Into Minstrel Show," 25 Nov. 2020 Her presence on that stage speaks of the influence of Black women in our democracy, but also the ways in which respect for their intellect, their womanhood and their individuality has been slow to come. — Washington Post, "Kamala Harris made history with quiet, exquisite power," 8 Nov. 2020 The colorful rite of passage marks a girl’s 15th birthday and her journey from girlhood to womanhood. — jsonline.com, "'Shecession': COVID-19 pandemic presses down on Wisconsin women," 5 Nov. 2020 Rina Sukhraj does a fine job showing us the most girl-like character of these young people on the verge of womanhood. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "Girls on the cusp of womanhood intrigue in ‘The Wolves’ | Review," 12 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'womanhood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

14 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Womanhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/womanhood. Accessed 24 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for womanhood

womanhood

noun

English Language Learners Definition of womanhood

: the state or condition of being an adult woman and no longer a girl

: women in general

See the full definition for womanhood in the English Language Learners Dictionary

womanhood

wom·an·hood | \ ˈwu̇-mən-ˌhu̇d

\

Kids Definition of womanhood

1 : the state of being a woman She has grown to womanhood.

2 : womanly characteristics

3 : woman sense 2

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