# female

/ˈfiˌmeɪɫ/ (US) · /fˈiːmeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/female
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a person or animal

noun · CEFR A2

a person or animal of the sex that can produce eggs or give birth.

For teachers: an individual of the sex that is distinguished by the production of ova or the bearing of young.

- The female of this bird species has brown feathers to hide in the grass.
- Researchers observed that the female remained with the hatchlings while the male foraged for food in the nearby wetlands.

Usage: Often used as a noun in biological or medical contexts, but can be seen as dehumanising when applied to people in casual speech.

### 2. biological sex

adjective · CEFR A2

belonging to the sex that produces eggs or gives birth.

For teachers: pertaining to the sex that produces gametes in the form of eggs.

- The hospital has a separate ward for female patients.
- The study focused on the long-term health outcomes of female athletes participating in high-impact sports.

Teaching tip: Distinguish from 'feminine', which refers to cultural qualities or appearance rather than biological sex.

### 3. botany

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a plant or flower that produces seeds or fruit.

For teachers: denoting a plant or flower that possesses ovules but lacks functional stamens.

- Only the female holly trees produce the bright red berries in winter.
- In dioecious species, the female plants must be situated near a pollen source to ensure successful fruit production.

### 4. connectors/tools

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a part of a tool or wire that has a hole for another part to fit into.

For teachers: having a hollow or recessed part into which a corresponding male part is inserted.

- You need a female connector to plug this cable into the wall.
- The technician replaced the damaged female port on the back of the amplifier to restore the audio signal.

## Examples

- The female of the species is often smaller than the male.
- Researchers observed that the female returned to the nest every evening to feed the chicks.
- In many avian species, the female possesses more muted plumage than the male, a trait that provides essential camouflage while she is incubating eggs in the nest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.