femininity

noun

fem·​i·​nin·​i·​ty ˌfe-mə-ˈni-nə-tē 

1

: the quality or nature of the female sex : the quality, state, or degree of being feminine or womanly

challenging traditional notions about femininity and masculinity

… the women were visions of powerful femininity.

—Alan Shipnuck

2

: woman, womankind

… he was now to contrast her sharply with the best of what the Old World had to offer in the matter of femininity …

—Theodore Dreiser

Synonyms

• feminity

Examples of femininity in a Sentence

national costumes that accent masculinity and femininity

Recent Examples on the Web

Donna Karan New York, which marks its 40th anniversary this fall, will celebrate with five women who embody the enduring femininity of the brand. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025

Employees also felt obligated to conform to a certain idea of femininity. —Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025

Gender and femininity have never shielded Black women and girls from unfettered anti-Blackness or police violence. —Lashawn Harris august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025

Masculinity, like femininity, has always been a kind of performance. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing femininity

• hyper-femininity

Rhymes for femininity

• alkalinity
• consanguinity
• crystallinity
• masculinity
• affinity
• divinity
• infinity
• salinity
• vicinity
• virginity

Medical Definition

femininity

noun

fem·​i·​nin·​i·​ty ˌfem-ə-ˈnin-ət-ē 

plural femininities

: the quality or nature of the female sex