Standard Lemma guide

unmanliness

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being unmanly; sissiness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

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: effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, softness, womanishness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: femininity, muliebrity

Narrower terms: emasculation

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English unmanly Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English unmanliness From unmanly + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: epämiehekkyys — the property of being unmanly
  • Ancient Greek: ἀνανδρία (anandría) — the property of being unmanly
  • Hungarian: férfiatlanság — the property of being unmanly
  • Irish: mífhearúlacht — the property of being unmanly
  • Urdu: نامردی (nāmardī) — the property of being unmanly