womanish

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ˈwʊmənɪʃ/ UK /ˈwʊmənɪʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #101582

Meanings

1

adj
dated and derogatory, especially of a man: having traits stereotypically associated with women and judged weak or unsuitable

The historian notes that calling the prince womanish reflected the period's sexist assumptions.
2

adj
archaic: characteristic of, associated with, or carried out by women

The author praised what she called womanish compassion, though the phrase now sounds dated.
3

verb
obsolete: to make someone or something womanish or supposedly effeminate

The courtier claimed that luxury would womanish the soldiers, an argument rooted in old gender stereotypes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · dated and derogatory,... effeminate unmanly

2 adj · archaic: characteristic of,... femininewomanlike

3 verb · obsolete: to make someone... effeminatefeminize

Opposites

masculine manly

Word family

Forms womanishness

Related forms old-womanishwomanly

Etymology

From Middle English wommanyssh, formed from woman + -ish; the obsolete verb arose from the adjective. The disparaging sense reflects historical gender stereotypes, so modern definitions label it dated and derogatory.

Topics

Register & Style

External links

# womanish

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈwʊmənɪʃ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈwʊmənɪʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 101582

## Meanings
1. dated and derogatory, especially of a man: having traits stereotypically associated with women and judged weak or unsuitable
2. archaic: characteristic of, associated with, or carried out by women
3. obsolete: to make someone or something womanish or supposedly effeminate

## Examples
- The historian notes that calling the prince womanish reflected the period's sexist assumptions.
- The author praised what she called womanish compassion, though the phrase now sounds dated.
- The courtier claimed that luxury would womanish the soldiers, an argument rooted in old gender stereotypes.

## Synonyms
- effeminate
- unmanly
- feminine
- womanlike

## Antonyms
- masculine
- manly

## Related Forms
- old-womanish
- womanly

## Etymology
From Middle English wommanyssh, formed from woman + -ish; the obsolete verb arose from the adjective. The disparaging sense reflects historical gender stereotypes, so modern definitions label it dated and derogatory.

## Topics
- Register & Style

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