feminization
|fe-mi-ni-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌfɛmɪnɪˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌfemɪnɪˈzeɪʃən/
(feminize)
make female / make feminine
Etymology
'feminization' originates from Latin, specifically the root 'fēmina' meaning 'woman', combined in English with the verb-forming suffix '-ize' and the noun-forming suffix '-ation'.
'fēmina' in Latin produced Late Latin and Medieval Latin forms such as 'feminare'/'feminizare'; from these came the verb 'feminize' in Modern English and then the noun 'feminization'.
Initially, related forms meant 'to make or regard as female' based on 'woman'; over time the word came to include broader senses such as the increasing presence of women in an area and medical or linguistic processes of acquiring female characteristics.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of making something feminine or of giving female characteristics.
The feminization of the costume designs gave the character a gentler appearance.
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Noun 2
an increase in the proportion or influence of women within a particular profession, field, or institution (the process by which an occupation or sector becomes dominated or largely populated by women).
The feminization of the nursing profession began in the 19th century and accelerated in the 20th century.
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Noun 3
in linguistics, the creation or adoption of feminine forms of words (for example, deriving feminine job titles or grammatical feminine forms).
Linguists discussed the feminization of job titles to promote gender-neutral language.
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Noun 4
in biology and medicine, the development or induction of female secondary sexual characteristics (for example, due to hormones or genetic influence).
Some endocrine disorders can cause the feminization of genetic males.
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Last updated: 2026/01/16 21:11