Effeminate

//ɪˈfɛmɪnət// adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An effeminate person.

    "The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […]"

Verb
  1. 1
    To make womanly; to unman. archaic, nonstandard, transitive

    "the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre."

  2. 2
    To become womanly. intransitive
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine. derogatory, often

    "An effeminate and unmanly foppery."

  2. 2
    Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring. obsolete

    "Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse."

Adjective
  1. 1
    having unsuitable feminine qualities wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
unmanlyac-dcamphieroticautoeroticbentbisexed

Example

More examples

"Sato's high voice and mannerisms are pretty effeminate."

Etymology

From Middle English effeminat, effemynat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.