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Suffragette: meaning, definitions and examples

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suffragette

 

[ ˌsʌfrəˈdʒɛt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical context

The term 'suffragette' refers to women who actively worked to obtain the right to vote in the early 20th century, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. They are renowned for their militant tactics in promoting women's suffrage, including protests, demonstrations, and hunger strikes. The suffragettes faced significant opposition and many were imprisoned for their actions. Their efforts played a crucial role in the eventual granting of voting rights to women. The suffragette movement is part of a broader wave of activism that has sought to improve women's rights and gender equality.

Synonyms

activist, campaigner, feminist

Examples of usage

  • The suffragette movement galvanized women across the nation.
  • Many suffragettes were arrested during protests demanding the right to vote.
  • Emmeline Pankhurst was a leading suffragette in the early 1900s.
  • Suffragettes used hunger strikes as a form of protest.
  • The influence of suffragettes can still be seen in modern feminism.

Translations

Translations of the word "suffragette" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sufragista

🇮🇳 मताधिकार समर्थक

🇩🇪 Suffragette

🇮🇩 sufraget

🇺🇦 суфражистка

🇵🇱 sufrażystka

🇯🇵 サフラジェット

🇫🇷 suffragette

🇪🇸 sufragista

🇹🇷 suffragette

🇰🇷 서프라제트

🇸🇦 ناشطة حقوق الاقتراع

🇨🇿 sufražistka

🇸🇰 sufražistka

🇨🇳 女性选举权运动者

🇸🇮 sufražetka

🇮🇸 sufragetta

🇰🇿 сүфражистка

🇬🇪 სუფრაჟისტი

🇦🇿 sufrajet

🇲🇽 sufragista

Word origin

The word 'suffragette' originated from the term 'suffrage,' which means the right to vote. 'Suffragette' was used pejoratively by opponents of women's voting rights to describe women in the suffrage movement who employed militant tactics. The term was first coined in 1906 by the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK, and although it was initially intended as an insult, women embraced the label. The suffragette movement gained momentum in the early 20th century when women began organizing for their voting rights. Activists like Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters led the Women's Social and Political Union, which adopted more radical strategies to draw attention to their cause. The resilience and dedication of suffragettes ultimately contributed to the passing of laws granting women the right to vote, including the Representation of the People Act 1918 in the UK and the 19th Amendment in the United States in 1920. Their legacy continues to inspire contemporary movements for gender equality.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,726 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.