female

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
  2. noun a person who belongs to the sex that can have babies
  3. adjective being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop

Etymology

From Middle English female, an alteration of Middle English femele, from Old French femele, femelle (“female”), from Medieval Latin fēmella (“a female”), from Latin fēmella (“a girl, a young female, a young woman”), diminutive of fēmina (“a woman”). The English spelling and pronunciation were remodelled under the influence of male, which is otherwise not etymologically related. Contrast woman, which is etymologically built on man (as in, “person”).

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