feminist

1 of 2

noun

plural feminists
Synonyms of feministnext
: a person who supports or engages in feminism
Similarly, Saint Thomas's resident nun, Sister Maureen (Ann Dowd), is no girlish cutie: She's an ardent, in-your-face feminist.Terrence Rafferty
He [Stendhal] was a feminist and … he held that to deprive women of education 'deprives society of half its potential for intellectual achievement'.V. S. Pritchett

feminist

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, supporting, or compatible with feminism
feminist theory
the feminist movement
The act of speaking is a way women come to power, telling our stories, sharing history, engaging in feminist discussion.bell hooks
[Patricia] Ireland, past president of the National Organization for Women, is perhaps the best-known former Pan Am flight attendant of the '60s; seven years working for the airline helped inspire her feminist activism, which included campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment.Sarah Rose

Examples of feminist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Among the many moments that stand out is the question of whether Dolly is a feminist. Becca James, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 While initially led by right-wing conservative and religious organizations, these campaigns now draw active support from gender critical feminists. Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
But she was also considered a feminist role model for holding the reins of her own career, writing her own songs, owning her content and looking after her finances in an entertainment world dominated by men. Kristin M. Hall, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 In fact, many of the newer gender critical groups emerged precisely to challenge the more longstanding feminist and women’s organizations that had adopted trans inclusive positions. Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for feminist

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of feminist was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feminist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminist. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on feminist

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster