NYT Dictionary

FEMININE

/ˈfɛmɪnɪn/
AdjectiveNounFEM-i-ninefem-i-nine · 3 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2023, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Of or pertaining to the female gender.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-éh₂ Proto-Italic *θēmanā Proto-Italic *fēmanā Latin fēmina Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnus Latin fēminīnusder. Old French femininbor. Middle English femynyne English feminine From Middle English feminine, femynyne, femynyn, from Old French feminin, feminine, from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina (“woman”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-eh₂ (“(the one) nursing, breastfeeding”). Related to fetus, feminism, filial, fellatio.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

femalewomanlycaringladylikenurturingbeautyfemmefemfemininegirlish

Antonyms

masculinemanlymalebutchneuterandrogynousunwomanly

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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