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Feminine vs Effeminate - What's the difference?

feminine | effeminate |

As adjectives the difference between feminine and effeminate

is that feminine is of or pertaining to the female gender; womanly while effeminate is having behaviour or mannerisms considered unmasculine or typical of a woman or girl; feminine.

As a noun feminine

is that which is feminine.

As a verb effeminate is

to make womanly; to unman.

feminine

English

Alternative forms

*

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the female gender; womanly.
  • Of or pertaining to the female sex; biologically female, not male.
  • Belonging to females; typically used by females.
    • Mary, Elizabeth, and Edith are feminine names.
  • Having the qualities stereotypically associated with women: nurturing, not aggressive.
  • * :
    • Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine .
  • * :
    • Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.
  • * :
    • Ninus being esteemed no man of war at all, but altogether feminine , and subject to ease and delicacy.
  • (grammar) Of, pertaining or belonging to the female grammatical gender, in languages that have gender distinctions.

    • Synonyms

    * (of the female sex): female, womanly * (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender): caring, ladylike, nurturing

    Antonyms

    * (of the female sex): male, manly * (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender): butch, masculine * (grammar): masculine, neuter

    Derived terms

    * femininely * feminineness * feminine rhyme (prosody) * femininity * feminize

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which is feminine.
  • A woman.
  • * :
    • They guide the feminines toward the palace.
  • (grammar) The feminine gender.
  • (grammar) A word of the feminine gender.
  • * Latham:
    • There are but few true feminines in English.

    effeminate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (often, derogatory, of a man or boy) Having behaviour or mannerisms considered unmasculine or typical of a woman or girl; feminine.
  • * Bishop Hurd
    • An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
  • (obsolete) womanly; tender
  • * Shakespeare
    • Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.

    Synonyms

    * camp * swish

    Verb

    (effeminat)
  • (archaic) To make womanly; to unman.
  • * , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134:
    • the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
  • * John Locke
    • It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.

    Related terms

    * effeminacy ----