heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən 

ˈhir-,

ˈhe-rə- 

1

a

: a mythological or legendary woman often of divine descent having great strength or ability

b

: a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities

American heroines such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks

remembered as the heroine of the flood

2

a

: the principal female character in a literary or dramatic work

the heroine of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

b

: the central female figure in an event or period

Examples of heroine in a Sentence

The town remembered her as the heroine of the flood and erected a statue in her honor.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film’s heroine is teenager Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who volunteers to take her younger sister Primrose’s (Willow Shields) place in the competition. —Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 19 May 2024

Your favorite antihero or villain? Margaret Mitchell’s Scarlett O’Hara is my favorite villain, even though she’s positioned as the heroine. —New York Times, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən 

1

: a woman in legends or myths who has great courage and daring

2

: a woman admired for her achievements and qualities

3

: the chief female figure in a literary work or in an event or period