What does feminize mean?
"Feminize" is a verb meaning to give feminine qualities or characteristics to a person, object, style, or institution — or, in biology, to induce female characteristics in a male organism. In everyday and academic use, it often describes cultural or demographic change: a fashion house may feminize a traditionally masculine garment, or commentators may note that a profession has become increasingly feminized as more women enter it. The word also has a precise scientific sense: endocrinologists speak of hormones or pollutants that feminize male animals, causing them to develop female traits. Derived from Latin "femina," meaning woman, via the adjective "feminine," it entered English in the nineteenth century and is spelled "feminise" in British English. The term is generally neutral and descriptive, though its application to behaviour or identity can carry sensitive connotations. Its antonym, "masculinize," mirrors its structure exactly, making the pair useful for discussing gendered transformation across culture, society, and biology.
verbTo give a feminine character or quality to someone or something; to cause a person, group, or thing to become more feminine in nature, appearance, or composition. It can also mean to castrate an animal.
- To give a feminine quality, character, or appearance to something; to make something or someone more feminine.
- To alter the composition of a group or workforce so that it includes proportionally more women.
- (Biology/veterinary medicine) To castrate a male animal, or to induce female characteristics in a male organism.
"The new design subtly feminizes what was once a starkly masculine silhouette."
"Critics argued that the advertising campaign deliberately feminized the brand to appeal to a wider audience."
"Rising estrogen levels in the waterway were found to feminize male fish populations."
In some fish species, pollutants in rivers literally feminize males — turning the word from social commentary into hard biology.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feminize
"Feminize" derives from the Latin "femina," meaning woman, which also gives English "feminine," "feminism," and "femininity." The verb was formed from "feminine" by adding the suffix "-ize," a productive Greek-derived ending used to turn adjectives into verbs meaning "to make or become." The word entered English in the nineteenth century as gendered vocabulary expanded alongside social discussion of women's roles. Its sibling form "masculinize" was created on the same pattern from Latin "masculinus."
Related word forms
How feminize is actually used
"Feminize" carries no inherent negative connotation and appears frequently in academic, sociological, and biological contexts. In British English it is usually spelled "feminise." When applied to people or behaviours, it should be used with care as discussions of gendered traits are sensitive; in biological contexts (e.g., hormones feminizing tissue) the term is purely descriptive and neutral.
Easily confused with feminize
Womanize means to pursue numerous casual sexual relationships with women, while feminize means to make something feminine in character.