Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause something or someone to adopt or exhibit more feminine characteristics, qualities, or appearances. This can apply to physical traits, behaviors, or language.
   • To make something more characteristic of or suitable for women.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become more feminine in characteristics, qualities, or appearance.

Usage and Examples

• Transitive verb:

  • Some social critics argue that certain marketing campaigns feminise products to target a female audience.
  • The stylist aimed to feminise his look with softer clothing and a different haircut.
  • The study examined how pollutants can feminise male amphibians.

• Intransitive verb:

  • Over the years, his style of dress began to feminise.
  • The language used in the community appeared to feminise, adopting more traditionally female-associated speech patterns.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• In Sociolinguistics: The term can describe the process of making language more inclusive or reflective of women's usage.
  • The movement sought to feminise academic discourse by challenging masculine defaults.
• In Biology and Environmental Science: It often refers to the process where male organisms develop female physiological traits, typically due to hormonal or environmental factors.
  • The chemical was found to feminise fish populations in the contaminated river.

Variants and Related Words

• Feminize: The preferred spelling in American English. The word "feminise" is the British English spelling.
• Feminisation (British) / Feminization (American) (noun): The process or result of making or becoming feminine.
  • The feminisation of the workforce is a notable economic trend.
• Feminised (adj.): Describing something that has been made feminine.
  • The feminised version of the character was more popular.

Synonyms

• Effeminize: To make effeminate (often carries a more negative or pejorative connotation).
• Womanize: In this specific context, to make womanly (Note: This is a less common and potentially confusing usage, as "womanize" more commonly means to chase after women).
• Softening: In some contexts, to make softer or less masculine.

Antonyms

• Masculinise / Masculinize: To give masculine qualities to.
• Butch up (informal): To make more masculine in appearance or manner.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Feminised industry: An economic sector where the workforce is predominantly female.
  • Nursing is often cited as a feminised industry.
• Feminised poverty: The concept that poverty disproportionately affects women.
  • The report focused on strategies to combat feminised poverty.

Verb

1. to give a (more) feminine, effeminate, or womanly quality or appearance to
   • This hairdo feminizes the man
2. assume (more) feminine characteristics
   • feminized language
   • feminized frogs