feminist

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noun

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

He [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

feminist

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adjective

: 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

[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

Examples of feminist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Predators can hold glamorous jobs, present themselves as feminists and be celebrated for their roles empowering women. —Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2024

The feminists belong to a group called the Amazons of Avignon. —Catherine Porter, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024

Adjective

In a 2016 interview with Vox, Justin Trudeau spoke about the importance of raising his daughter with a feminist worldview. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

The violent feminist spin on actresses staring down the barrel of old age — and a lack of work as decided by shellfish-chewing male producers — won Best Screenplay back at Cannes in May. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing feminist

• anti-feminist
• pre-feminist
• trans exclusionary radical feminist