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 As a matter of policy, there is little disagreement within the French left about the importance of feminism, antiracism and other matters of social justice. Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Yet one more commonality between these operas — feminism — is worth mentioning. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 But its grassroots feminism went against the more urbane variety that embraces superiority and — ironically — victimhood. Armond White, National Review, 28 Feb. 2024 But these are the fields on which the grassroots of feminism were fought. Sarah Gristwood, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 Remember, these were the years immediately following the 1960s, the hippies, Woodstock, the Summer of Love, the Black Power Movement, feminism, peak Vietnam, Watergate. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Commended for its sharp humor and progressive portrayal of the LGBTQ community, feminism, and self-love, the ABC comedy has maintained a cult following over the years. Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 In the United States, California has always held promises of self-reinvention, and Hernández brings Chicana feminism into the enterprise. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 The rise of misogynist influencers At the same time as young men are turning away from feminism, misogynist men are rising in popularity online. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feminism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 18 Mar. 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

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