What does effeminately mean?
"Effeminately" is an adverb meaning in a manner regarded as typical of women or womanly characteristics, most often applied to a man's appearance, gestures, voice, or conduct. It derives from "effeminate," which comes from the Latin effeminare, "to make womanish," built on femina, "woman." The word has traditionally been used disapprovingly, suggesting that a man is soft, delicate, or insufficiently masculine by conventional standards — for example, a courtier who dressed effeminately or moved effeminately might be mocked for it. A secondary, older sense conveys weakness or lack of vigor more generally. Today "effeminately" appears chiefly in literary, historical, or descriptive writing, since it rests on gendered assumptions many writers prefer to avoid, but it remains useful when characterizing attitudes or portrayals from earlier periods.
adverbIn a manner considered characteristic of or typical of women, especially in appearance, mannerisms, or behavior as conventionally stereotyped. Often used to describe a man acting or dressing in ways regarded as unmanly by traditional standards.
- In a manner regarded as characteristic of women or womanly traits, especially in appearance or behavior (often of men).
- In a weak, soft, or lacking-in-vigor way; without manliness or strength (a now less common, pejorative sense).
"He gestured effeminately with one hand raised near his face, drawing glances across the room."
"The character spoke effeminately, his voice lilting in a way the other soldiers mocked."
"Critics of the era complained that young noblemen had grown up effeminately, devoted to luxury rather than discipline."
Effeminately traces straight back to Latin effeminatus — literally 'made womanish' — from femina, 'woman', the same root that gives us 'female' and 'feminine'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of effeminately
"Effeminately" is formed from the adjective "effeminate" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." "Effeminate" comes from the Latin effeminatus, the past participle of effeminare, meaning "to make womanish," composed of ex- ("out of") and femina ("woman"). English borrowed the word from Latin in the late medieval period, with the adverb following later. It shares its root with "feminine," "female," and "femininity," all descended from the Latin femina.
Related word forms
How effeminately is actually used
The word carries strong negative connotations and is rooted in gender stereotypes about how men and women should behave; modern usage is relatively rare and often found in historical, literary, or critical contexts describing past attitudes. Because it implies that womanly traits are undesirable in men, it is generally avoided in contemporary neutral writing.
Easily confused with effeminately
"Effeminate" is the adjective describing the quality itself, while "effeminately" is the adverb describing how an action is performed.