womanhood

noun

wom·​an·​hood ˈwu̇-mən-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce womanhood (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈwō-,
 or  ˈwə-
1
a
: the state of being a woman
b
: the distinguishing character or qualities of a woman or of womankind
2

Examples of womanhood in a Sentence

a young girl on the verge of womanhood What is your view of womanhood? The book is a celebration of womanhood.
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.
The pop icons once again put their issues behind them via song, passionately tackling the complexities of womanhood and their former feud before hugging. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025 White Painted Woman was a model of heroism and honorable womanhood: When evil monsters were hunting the Apache people, the White Painted Woman gave birth to a son who would destroy the creatures to help make Earth inhabitable for humanity. Alejandra Rubio, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025 That sense of community and sisterhood — even as a virtual customer taking classes at home — has been a lifeline through all the phases of womanhood. Michelle Tauber, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 Through her music, Lafourcade paints stories of heartbreak, loss, womanhood, grief and the celebration of life. Pamela Avila, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for womanhood

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of womanhood was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Womanhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/womanhood. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

womanhood

noun
wom·​an·​hood ˈwu̇m-ən-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce womanhood (audio)
1
: the state of being a woman
2
: qualities associated with women
3

More from Merriam-Webster on womanhood

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!