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
The female driver of the other vehicle was evaluated on scene and took herself to a hospital for further testing. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026 Fully 40% of family offices with female principals have written philanthropy mission statements, compared to only 29% for family offices overall, according to the Bank of America survey. — Robert Frank, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
In 2023, 288,494 new breast cancers were reported in females in the United States, and 43,402 females in the United States died from breast cancer in 2024, according to latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 And in the 2024 election, about 67% of females voted compared to 61% of men. — Sophia Eppley, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for female
Recent Examples of Synonyms for female
  1. feminine
  2. lady
  3. woman
Adjective
  • The shoes have deeply low sides along the vamp that are cut away to expose the arch and inner sides of the foot, creating a flirtier and more feminine outline.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Because of body composition, some notes that could be considered feminine like large waxy florals, or masculine like tobacco can come across completely differently depending on the person.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of feminine
Noun
  • First lady Rosângela da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and other allies accompanied Lula to the polling station.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Oh, Jenn wants to be just as successful as the rest of the ladies and is trying to figure out how to make more money.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of lady
Noun
  • The room is a design flex of its own — velvet banquettes, rich purples, cerulean blues, gold and marble, with art exclusively by women.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Two women, ages 50 and 60, were killed and dozens of other people were wounded in a Russian strike on a market in Lozova, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on female

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about female

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