unfeminine

adjective

un·​fem·​i·​nine ˌən-ˈfe-mə-nən How to pronounce unfeminine (audio)
: not characteristic of, typical of, or appropriate for a woman : not feminine
an unfeminine voice/manner

Examples of unfeminine in a Sentence

in bygone days pants were considered unfeminine, and even women bicycling were expected to wear skirts
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The intention behind this final postcard may have been, yet again, to paint the fight for suffrage as absurd, to make suffragists seem like willful, unfeminine animals. Natalie Kinkade, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2024 This really helped cement this idea that there was something or there could be something unfeminine about successful athletes. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 1 Aug. 2024 Things that were once seen as ugly or unfeminine (i.e. baggy clothes, chunky sneakers and grungy makeup) are now once again considered chic. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 10 July 2024 Physical activity for girls and women was cast as unfeminine, and while schools poured money and other resources into programs for male students, budding female athletes were left to fend for themselves. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 21 June 2022 Her voice was harsh, unfeminine. Anne Thériault, Longreads, 14 May 2021 Her muscle mass is defiantly unfeminine but only because our idea of this gendered notion has always been too narrow and confining. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 In an article for Smithsonian Magazine, science journalist Sarah Everts tracked that first 1919 deodorant campaign, which declared pit aroma distinctly unfeminine. Katherine Dunn, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfeminine was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near unfeminine

Cite this Entry

“Unfeminine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfeminine. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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