Word of the day · 21 May 2026
feminism
/ˈfɛmɪnɪzəm/
noun
Advocacy of equal rights and opportunities for women plus analysis of how gender shapes power in society.
In a sentence
- Early feminism fought for the vote and property rights.
- Her book introduces feminism through workplace pay gaps.
- Classroom discussion treated feminism as a set of arguments, not one slogan.
In an image
Origin
From French féminisme in the 19th century, from Latin femina (woman) plus -ism.
History
Feminism covers several waves and schools, from suffrage and legal equality to debates on work, body autonomy and culture. Critics and supporters argue over methods while sharing, in the broad definition, a focus on women’s status. People search the word when it appears as a badge or a slur in headlines. A plain definition keeps the equality claim at the center.
Nearby words
equality · suffrage · gender
The movement and ideas aimed at women’s equality.