ef·fem·i·nate

(ĭ-fĕm′ə-nĭt)

adj.

Having or showing qualities or characteristics more often associated with females than males; unmanly: "gentle, kind, effeminate remorse" (Shakespeare).

[Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēmināre, to make feminine : ex-, ex- + fēmina, woman; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

ef·fem′i·na·cy (-nə-sē), ef·fem′i·nate·ness n.

ef·fem′i·nate n.

ef·fem′i·nate·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

effeminateness - the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him"

effeminacy, sissiness, unmanliness, womanishness, softness

femininity, muliebrity - the trait of behaving in ways considered typical for women

emasculation - loss of power and masculinity

depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something

effeminateness

noun

The quality of being effeminate:

effeminacy, femininity, sissiness, unmanliness, womanishness.

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References in periodicals archive

The condemnation of the openly queer men of the cities is directed partly at their carnality and their effeminateness, and partly at their public visibility.

Transnational queer literature of the (other) Americas

Categorizing an American male as 'hysterical,' for example, was not only an affront to his masculinity but might foster unwelcome insinuations of homosexuality and effeminateness, just as doctors struggled to diagnose the ailment, patients recoiled at the diagnosis.

Dying of Nostalgia: homesickness in the union army during the civil war