female 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfē-ˌmāl How to pronounce female (audio)
Definition of femalenext
as in feminine
of, relating to, or marked by qualities traditionally associated with women the composer's new music calls for female voices

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

female

2 of 2

noun

as in lady
an adult female human being researchers are looking for females aged 50 to 70 to take part in the study

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of female
Adjective
Rudd is the female lead in Netflix’s record-breaking live-action adaptation of One Piece. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 Pearson ultimately pulled off a win against Lamar, who has held various offices since 2018 and is known for being the youngest female and African American in the history of the state Senate, the Associated Press and NBC News projected. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The group of females – Xena, Gemini, Skyla, Meeka, Eve, Neva and Calypso – was the second to leave Marineland, and marked the largest beluga transfer ever completed in the United States. — Jared Ochacher, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The female of the species injects her eggs into a caterpillar. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for female
Recent Examples of Synonyms for female
  1. feminine
  2. lady
  3. woman
Adjective
  • The flowy silhouette and delicate ruffle hem look feminine and fresh, while the color pops beautifully against beachy backdrops and golden sunsets.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
  • During Thursday’s call, Albesa outlined several upcoming initiatives for Puig, beginning with the launch of Jean Paul Gaultier’s new feminine fragrance, La Favorite.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 30 July 2026
Definition of feminine
Noun
  • The ladies then go around and talk about their most iconic moment on the show.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For most guys, turning up poolside in the same trunks as someone else isn’t that big of a deal—certainly not a faux pas on the same level as, say, the lady in your life’s arriving on the red carpet in the same gown as another woman.
    — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of lady
Noun
  • Twelve people were rescued, and divers later located the woman and the infant in the water, police said.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The issue has dominated conversation around the WNBA in the wake of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments in favor of excluding trans athletes from women’s sports.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of woman

Browse Nearby Words

felt up
female
femaleness
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Cite this Entry

“Female.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/female. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on female

Nglish: Translation of female for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about female

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