Standard Lemma guide

effeminacy

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being effeminate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: effeminateness, effemination, invirility, morbidezza, niceness, unmasculinity

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy
  • Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness
  • he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: effeminateness, sissiness, softness, womanishness, unmanliness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: femininity, muliebrity

Narrower terms: emasculation

History

Etymology

From effeminate + -cy.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تخنُّث، تأنث — the quality of being effeminate
  • Catalan: efeminació — the quality of being effeminate
  • Catalan: efeminament — the quality of being effeminate
  • French: efféminement — the quality of being effeminate
  • French: effémination — the quality of being effeminate
  • German: Weichlichkeit — the quality of being effeminate
  • German: Verweiblichung — the quality of being effeminate
  • Greek: θηλυπρέπεια (thilyprépeia) — the quality of being effeminate
  • Hindi: स्त्रैणता (straiṇtā) — the quality of being effeminate
  • Irish: baineandacht — the quality of being effeminate
  • Irish: piteogacht — the quality of being effeminate
  • Irish: piteántacht — the quality of being effeminate
  • Italian: effeminatezza — the quality of being effeminate
  • Polish: zniewieściałość — the quality of being effeminate
  • Polish: babskość — the quality of being effeminate
  • Polish: babstwo — the quality of being effeminate
  • Portuguese: afeminação — the quality of being effeminate
  • Portuguese: efeminação — the quality of being effeminate
  • Portuguese: mariquice — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: boireanntachd — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: baindeachd — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: buige — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: meatachd — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: neo-dhuinealas — the quality of being effeminate
  • Scottish Gaelic: taiseachadh — the quality of being effeminate
  • Spanish: afeminación — the quality of being effeminate
  • Spanish: afeminamiento — the quality of being effeminate
  • Spanish: pluma — the quality of being effeminate
  • Spanish: ramalazo — the quality of being effeminate