'womanism' originates from English, specifically from the word 'woman' with the suffix '-ism,' where 'woman' refers to an adult female human and '-ism' denotes a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy.

'womanism' was coined in the late 20th century, notably by author Alice Walker in her 1982 publication 'In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens,' and became the modern English word 'womanism.'

Initially, it meant 'a form of feminism focused on Black women's experiences,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.