Females: meaning, definitions and examples

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females

 

[ ˈfiːmeɪlz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

gender classification

Females are individuals of a species that produce eggs or ovum, which can develop into offspring. In humans and many animals, females are defined by the presence of two X chromosomes. They typically possess reproductive structures like ovaries and are often associated with traits like nurturing and caring behavior.

Synonyms

dames, girls, ladies, women

Examples of usage

  • Females of the species are usually larger than males.
  • The female population is vital for the continuation of the species.
  • Females may exhibit different behaviors during mating season.

Translations

Translations of the word "females" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fêmeas

🇮🇳 महिलाएँ

🇩🇪 weiblich

🇮🇩 perempuan

🇺🇦 самки

🇵🇱 samice

🇯🇵 

🇫🇷 féminines

🇪🇸 hembras

🇹🇷 dişiler

🇰🇷 암컷

🇸🇦 إناث

🇨🇿 samice

🇸🇰 samice

🇨🇳 雌性

🇸🇮 samice

🇮🇸 kvenkyn

🇰🇿 ұрғашылар

🇬🇪 მდედრები

🇦🇿 dişilər

🇲🇽 hembras

Word origin

The term 'female' traces back to the Latin word 'femella', meaning 'girl' or 'young woman', which is a diminutive form of 'femina', meaning 'woman'. This Latin root also connects to the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeigh-, which means 'to suck' and relates to nurturing aspects often associated with females in many species. The use of 'female' to distinguish those who produce ova from males has been present in English since the late Middle Ages, evolving through Old French and Middle English usages. In contemporary times, 'female' encompasses a broad range of meanings, including biological, social, and cultural contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,289, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.