heroine

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The main female character in a story, film, or play.

   The heroine of the novel risks everything to save her family.

2. 2
   noun

   A woman admired for her courage or great achievements.

   She became a national heroine after rescuing the drowning children.

From Latin hērōīna, from late Ancient Greek ἡρωΐνη (hērōḯnē) (2nd century), a feminine equivalent of ἥρως (hḗrōs, “hero, demigod”), equivalent to hero + -ine (suffix forming feminine nouns). * English from 1587. The sense of "female lead character" is from 1715.

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