wom·en·folk
ˈwi-mən-ˌfōk 
variants
or less commonly womenfolks
old-fashioned
: women
The womenfolk had spent all day paring apples, threading them on strings preparing to dry them for the winter.—
Esther Forbes
Esther Forbes
plural womenfolk also womanfolk or womenfolks
1
chiefly dialectal
: woman
2
womenfolk also womanfolk or womenfolks plural
: the women of a group (as a family or community)
get the womenfolk off to the hills—E. M. Forster
E. M. ForsterExamples of womenfolk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Years ago, the business of entertaining mostly did fall on the shoulders of the womenfolk.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
As a young girl, Zelma runs wild and free in the natural surroundings of Sakhalin Island, despite the disapproving whispers of the womenfolk around her.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
Those limits tightened even further in 1805 when the Reverend George Austen died, leaving his womenfolk—Jane, Cassandra, and their mother—living on their small personal incomes, supplemented by gifts from the remaining Austen men, at least one of whom was wealthy.
—Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2023
Ms Varshney is far from alone in believing that the 80% of Indians who are Hindu face a concerted, predatory effort to entice their womenfolk away from the faith.
—The Economist, 30 Sep. 2017
Once their families are fed, the womenfolk sell the rest of their catch from dawn to dusk from hot, dusty roadside stalls by Highway 57, a major trade route through Mexico.
—Phil Davison, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2017
This meant that the womenfolk wouldn’t have to rub elbows with stinky and suspicious males, and that diners would henceforth be viable date night locations (Danny and Sandy’s misadventure notwithstanding).
—Ryan P. Smith, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2017
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.
Plural noun
In an exclusive interview, the director shares his views on exploring social issues, especially those affecting the womenfolk in his country, through the populist genre of horror films.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Years ago, the business of entertaining mostly did fall on the shoulders of the womenfolk.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
As a young girl, Zelma runs wild and free in the natural surroundings of Sakhalin Island, despite the disapproving whispers of the womenfolk around her.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
Those limits tightened even further in 1805 when the Reverend George Austen died, leaving his womenfolk—Jane, Cassandra, and their mother—living on their small personal incomes, supplemented by gifts from the remaining Austen men, at least one of whom was wealthy.
—Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2023
Ms Varshney is far from alone in believing that the 80% of Indians who are Hindu face a concerted, predatory effort to entice their womenfolk away from the faith.
—The Economist, 30 Sep. 2017
Once their families are fed, the womenfolk sell the rest of their catch from dawn to dusk from hot, dusty roadside stalls by Highway 57, a major trade route through Mexico.
—Phil Davison, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2017
This meant that the womenfolk wouldn’t have to rub elbows with stinky and suspicious males, and that diners would henceforth be viable date night locations (Danny and Sandy’s misadventure notwithstanding).
—Ryan P. Smith, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Womenfolk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/womenfolk. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
womenfolk
plural noun
wom·en·folk
ˈwim-ən-ˌfōk
variants
also womenfolks
: women especially of one family or group
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
