womanish

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

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.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

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

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives 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
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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