# feminism

/ˈfɛmɪˌnɪzəm/ (US) · /fˈɛmɪnˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feminism
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. social/political movement

noun · CEFR B2

the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, and the organized effort to reach that goal.

For teachers: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific historical waves or schools of thought.

- Feminism has changed how society views work and family life over the last century.
- The rise of intersectional feminism has highlighted how race, class, and gender overlap to create unique experiences of discrimination.

### 2. femininity

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned word for the quality of being feminine or having female characteristics.

For teachers: the state or quality of being feminine. This sense is largely obsolete in modern discourse, having been replaced by 'femininity'.

- In the old book, the author praised the lady for her grace and feminism.
- Nineteenth-century texts occasionally use feminism to describe a woman's physical appearance rather than her political convictions.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern speakers exclusively use 'feminism' to refer to the political and social movement.

## Examples

- She joined the local group to learn more about modern feminism.
- The history of feminism is often divided into waves, each focusing on different legal and social reforms.
- While early feminism focused primarily on suffrage and property rights, contemporary discourse often examines how gender intersects with race, class, and other social identities.

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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.