effeminate

[ih-fem-uh-nit, ih-fem-uh-neyt]

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.

2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc..

   effeminate luxury.

verb (used with or without object)

effeminated, effeminating 

1. to make or become effeminate.

effeminate

/ ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt /

adjective

1. (of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly

2. lacking firmness or vigour

   an effeminate piece of writing

Other Word Forms

• effeminacy noun
• effeminately adverb
• effeminateness noun
• effemination noun
• uneffeminate adjective
• uneffeminately adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of effeminate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēmināt-, past participle stem of effēmināre “to make feminine,” equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) “woman” + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of effeminate¹

C14: from Latin effēmināre to make into a woman, from fēmina woman

Synonym Study

See female.

Example Sentences

Men who buy this message that empathy is stupid, suicidal, and effeminate — which is supposedly the worst thing you can be — are going to struggle to make friends and maintain romantic relationships.

From Salon

In fact, I think those gendered stereotypes — Americans as virile and manly; Europeans as emasculated or effeminate — go back much further than that, and were inhaled by nearly all American men of Trump’s generation.

From Salon

This is the message that Ridley Scott chose for his movie: Rome has been taken over by a foppish, effeminate class of men in perfumed silks.

From Salon

Refusing to develop the necessary people skills to get ahead because you think it's effeminate will keep you from moving ahead.

From Salon

A typical if slightly effeminate adolescent Jewish boy, California version.

From Los Angeles Times