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

Bridget Jones actress Sally Phillips is sharing hilarious memories of behaving exactly like the franchise’s hapless heroine around costars Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. —John Russell, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Underdogs don't come much more awkward than Carrie White (so memorably played by Sissy Spacek), the timid, tragic heroine of Brian De Palma's freaky Stephen King adaptation. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Over the course of her very bad day, Verity Amersham, the heroine of Expelled!, will have to brave all manner of indignities beyond cod liver oil to avoid being kicked out of school. —The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Nevertheless, Joe Wright’s lush adaptation of Jane Austen’s second novel hitched Knightley’s star ever higher, establishing her as perhaps the premier period-drama heroine of our time—while also helping to launch people like Carey Mulligan and Rosamund Pike into the stratosphere. —Marley Marius, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for heroine

• heroin

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