feminism

noun

fem·​i·​nism ˈfe-mə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce feminism (audio)
: belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
feministic adjective

Examples of feminism in a Sentence

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.
Phool represents the possibility of maintaining individuality while thriving within familial structures—a nuanced perspective on feminism as a celebration of choice. Taarini Kaur Dang, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 Yet Lee was an uninspired candidate, and Koreans were frustrated by rising housing costs and general economic malaise under Moon; Yoon also took advantage of a male backlash to #MeToo feminism. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024 Some also derided her claims to feminism, saying her themes of strong women rising to power were intended only to win the hearts of her largely female audience. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 An analysis from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, however, attributed Kuwait’s censorship of the film to a hostility toward Western feminism, rather than LGBTQ+ aesthetics or casting. James Factora, Them, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feminism 

Word History

Etymology

see feminine entry 1

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of feminism was in 1893

Dictionary Entries Near feminism

Cite this Entry

“Feminism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminism. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

feminism

noun
fem·​i·​nism ˈfem-ə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce feminism (audio)
1
: the theory supporting the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
2
: organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
feminist noun or adjective
feministic adjective

Medical Definition

feminism

noun
fem·​i·​nism ˈfem-ə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce feminism (audio)
: the presence of female characteristics in males

More from Merriam-Webster on feminism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!