Female Meaning and Definition
Female
Pronunciation
/ˈfimiəl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A grammatical term referring to the sex that produces eggs, as opposed to the sex that produces sperm, which is typically designated as male. In general, the term refers to an organism that has a primitive set of sex chromosomes (XX) and is capable of reproducing exclusively through the production of eggs.
Examples
- The female of the species is generally smaller than the male.
- In most species, the female lays eggs or gives birth to live young.
Synonyms
- Feminine
- Girl
Antonyms
- Male
- Boy
Etymology
The word “Female” originates from the Latin word “femina”, meaning “woman” or “female”; this term has been used to describe the sex that produces eggs in animals and plants since ancient times.
Usage Notes
The term “Female” is often used interchangeably with terms like “Feminine” and “Girl”, although “Feminine” typically refers to the characteristics or qualities associated with women, while “Girl” is often used to refer to a young female human being.
Cultural References
The term “Female” has been used in various forms of media, such as literature, film, and television, to refer to characters or entities that exhibit female characteristics or behaviors.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
The term “Female” is used in various idiomatic expressions and phrases, such as “the female of the species” or “female for hire”, which convey specific meanings or connotations.
Related Words or Phrases
The term “Female” is closely related to words and phrases such as “Male”, “Sex”, “Gender”, and “Gender roles”, which are all used to describe the biological and social characteristics of humans and other animals.
Collocations
The term “Female” is often used in collocations with other words or phrases, such as “Female lead”, “Female protagonist”, or “Female empowerment”, which convey specific meanings or connotations.
Frequency of Use
The term “Female” is commonly used in everyday language and is a fundamental component of many linguistic and cultural contexts.
Common Misspellings
The most common misspellings of the word “Female” include “Femal” and “Femalee”, which are relatively rare but can cause misunderstandings in certain contexts.