What does effeminate mean?
Effeminate is an adjective describing a man who displays qualities, mannerisms, or appearance traditionally associated with women — for example, a soft voice, delicate gestures, or an interest in pursuits deemed unmanly. Derived from the Latin effeminare, meaning 'to make womanish', it entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French and has almost always carried a negative charge: to call a man effeminate is to criticize him for falling short of masculine ideals. Historically it was applied not only to individuals but to whole cultures or classes thought to have grown soft through luxury, as in descriptions of 'effeminate' Eastern courts by Roman and later European writers. Today the word is strongly pejorative and often criticized as sexist, since it treats feminine traits in men as a failing. It appears chiefly in literary, historical, or sociological contexts rather than everyday praise or neutral description.
adjective(of a man) having traits, mannerisms, or appearance traditionally regarded as characteristic of women or girls; unmanly. The term carries a strong negative connotation when applied to men.
- (of a man) having or showing traits regarded as typical of women; unmanly or womanish in appearance, voice, or manner.
- (rare, of things such as clothing or pursuits) considered suitable only for women or associated with women rather than men.
"His critics dismissed him as effeminate because of his soft voice and love of poetry."
"The general mocked the young officer's effeminate gestures and carefully curled hair."
"In Victorian England, dancing was sometimes condemned as an effeminate pastime for boys."
Effeminate comes straight from the Latin 'effeminare' — literally 'to make into a woman' — a word Romans used as one of the gravest insults against men.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of effeminate
Effeminate derives from the Latin effeminare, formed from ex- ('out') plus femina ('woman'), literally meaning 'to make into a woman'. It passed into English in the late medieval period, likely through Old French, where it was first used of men judged to have lost their manly vigor. It shares its root with 'feminine', 'female', and 'femininity', all ultimately tracing back to the same Latin word for woman.
Related word forms
How effeminate is actually used
Strongly pejorative in modern usage; applying it to a man implies criticism of his masculinity and is widely considered offensive and sexist today. It is formal to literary in register, appearing mostly in historical writing, literary criticism, or discussions of gender stereotypes.
Easily confused with effeminate
'Effete' means lacking vigor or worn out (often of an institution or class), while 'effeminate' specifically means having womanlike qualities.
'Feminine' neutrally describes qualities associated with women, whereas 'effeminate' is pejorative when applied to men for displaying such qualities.