She is a grown woman. The store sells shoes for both men and women. Send us feedback. Are any of these not offensive? Please tell us where you read or heard it including the quote, if possible.
Need even more definitions? Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchβad free! Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice? Take the quiz The Exceptions Quiz One of these things is not like the others. Take the quiz Name That Thing Test your visual vocabulary with our question challenge! Play the game Merriam Webster Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox! Everyone from your next-door neighbor to your favorite high-school teacher have likely joined the discussion, using a brand new set of vocabulary including the words misogyny and sexism.
Woman is the general term. It is neutral, lacking either favorable or unfavorable implication, and is the most commonly used of the three: a wealthy woman; a woman of strong character, of unbridled appetites.
In scientific, statistical, and other objective use, female is the neutral contrastive term to male and may apply to plants and animals also: females to every males; Among lions, the female is the chief hunter.
Female is sometimes used in disparaging contexts: a gossipy female; a conniving female. Usage note2. Although formerly woman was sometimes regarded as demeaning and lady was the term of courtesy, woman is the designation preferred by most modern female adults: League of Women Voters; American Association of University Women.
