fem·i·nist
ˈfe-mə-nist 
plural feminists
: a person who supports or engages in feminism
Similarly, Saint Thomas's resident nun, Sister Maureen (Ann Dowd), is no girlish cutie: She's an ardent, in-your-face feminist.—
Terrence Rafferty
Terrence RaffertyHe [Stendhal] was a feminist and … he held that to deprive women of education 'deprives society of half its potential for intellectual achievement'.—V. S. Pritchett
V. S. Pritchett
: of, relating to, supporting, or compatible with feminism
feminist theory
the feminist movement
The act of speaking is a way women come to power, telling our stories, sharing history, engaging in feminist discussion.—bell hooks
bell hooks[Patricia] Ireland, past president of the National Organization for Women, is perhaps the best-known former Pan Am flight attendant of the '60s; seven years working for the airline helped inspire her feminist activism, which included campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment.—Sarah Rose
Sarah RoseExamples of feminist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebEmma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 3 May 2024
Roxane Gay is celebrating 10 years of being a bad feminist.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Yet in the decades that have passed, what’s endured is a genuine punk spirit, fed by Hanna’s ongoing force as a gutsy, proud feminist who helped other artists and fans fight back against abuse and discrimination.
—Lauren Leblanc, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
In their place are generic invocations of 21st century feminist and racial-justice fights, plus the occasional dig at the real estate tycoon who became our 45th President, tied precariously together with thin strands of plot that strain believability.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
The association trans-exclusionary radical feminists have endeavored to build between their bigotry and lesbian identity has also created further distance.
—Lindsay Lee Wallace, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
But when an eloquent, estranged feminist makes a very similar argument, ...
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 17 Mar. 2024
Many of the young feminists are the first generation of South Korean women who are more educated than their male peers, as women's college enrollment rates started to exceed men's in 2008.
—Se Eun Gong, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Why would gender-critical feminists join such a movement?
—Katha Pollitt, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024
TIME, 7 May 2024
The bookstore is divided into an academic section that features feminist history and social studies, as well as literature and poetry.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 6 May 2024
Take Our Daughters to Work Day began in 1992 in New York City, founded by feminist icon Gloria Steinem as part of the Ms. Foundation.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Monkey Grip, a largely autobiographical novel distilled from Garner’s diaries—autofiction avant la lettre—is the story of a divorced young feminist writer, raising her daughter in a quasi-commune.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
Over the course of history, from the 20th century’s feminist movement to 21st-century movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, social movements have gained traction when allies joined the fight.
—Preeti Vani, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Even within the feminist art community, disagreements remain over whether certain kinds of nudes are objectifying or empowering.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Sonya and her uncle Vanya function as the managers of the estate, where Vanya’s feminist mother, Mama Voinitski (Houdyshell), a nanny named Marina (Katigbak), and a guitar-plucking family friend (Hadary)—the aforementioned Waffles—also live.
—Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
Some feminist leaders gave Chisholm only equivocal support, offering a more serious endorsement to another candidate.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
The trio weren’t billionaires, but a group of basketball fans, feminists, and executives with a passion for the Storm—and who wanted to see the team stay in Washington.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 3 May 2024
Roxane Gay is celebrating 10 years of being a bad feminist.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Yet in the decades that have passed, what’s endured is a genuine punk spirit, fed by Hanna’s ongoing force as a gutsy, proud feminist who helped other artists and fans fight back against abuse and discrimination.
—Lauren Leblanc, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
In their place are generic invocations of 21st century feminist and racial-justice fights, plus the occasional dig at the real estate tycoon who became our 45th President, tied precariously together with thin strands of plot that strain believability.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
The association trans-exclusionary radical feminists have endeavored to build between their bigotry and lesbian identity has also created further distance.
—Lindsay Lee Wallace, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
But when an eloquent, estranged feminist makes a very similar argument, ...
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 17 Mar. 2024
Many of the young feminists are the first generation of South Korean women who are more educated than their male peers, as women's college enrollment rates started to exceed men's in 2008.
—Se Eun Gong, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Why would gender-critical feminists join such a movement?
—Katha Pollitt, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024
Adjective
More perspicacious than angry invective alone, that alchemy of tones has been her signature since the early ’90s, when a 20-something Hanna fronted Bikini Kill, the punk band that became the most visible act associated with the third-wave feminist movement known as riot grrrl.
—TIME, 7 May 2024
The bookstore is divided into an academic section that features feminist history and social studies, as well as literature and poetry.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 6 May 2024
Take Our Daughters to Work Day began in 1992 in New York City, founded by feminist icon Gloria Steinem as part of the Ms. Foundation.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Monkey Grip, a largely autobiographical novel distilled from Garner’s diaries—autofiction avant la lettre—is the story of a divorced young feminist writer, raising her daughter in a quasi-commune.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
Over the course of history, from the 20th century’s feminist movement to 21st-century movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, social movements have gained traction when allies joined the fight.
—Preeti Vani, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Even within the feminist art community, disagreements remain over whether certain kinds of nudes are objectifying or empowering.
—Julia Halperin, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Sonya and her uncle Vanya function as the managers of the estate, where Vanya’s feminist mother, Mama Voinitski (Houdyshell), a nanny named Marina (Katigbak), and a guitar-plucking family friend (Hadary)—the aforementioned Waffles—also live.
—Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
Some feminist leaders gave Chisholm only equivocal support, offering a more serious endorsement to another candidate.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feminist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near feminist
Cite this Entry
“Feminist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminist. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
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