Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Used to describe competitive activities or events in which only women or girls participate: This term specifically modifies sports, games, or competitions that are organized for female participants, often in contexts traditionally associated with men. It can sometimes carry a connotation of being less serious or intense than the standard version, though this is context-dependent.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The university organized a powder-puff football game during homecoming week.
  • She enjoyed playing in the annual powder-puff softball tournament.

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used attributively (before a noun) to describe the type of event. It is rarely used predicatively (after a linking verb like "is" or "was").
  • Correct: It was a powder-puff match.
  • Less Common: The match was powder-puff.

Variants and Related Words

• Powder puff (noun phrase): A soft pad used for applying cosmetic powder to the face. This is the original, literal meaning from which the adjective derives.
  • She reached for her powder puff to touch up her makeup.

Synonyms

• Women's: A neutral, standard term for activities involving only women (e.g., women's league).
• All-female: A descriptive term indicating participation is limited to females.

Notes on Meaning and Connotation

• The term originates from the cosmetic item (powder puff), which is stereotypically associated with femininity. When applied to sports, it explicitly marks the activity as one for women, often within a framework that contrasts it with the perceived norm or standard (men's) version.
• Depending on context and tone, its use can be seen as descriptive, playful, or potentially dismissive, implying the activity is not as physically demanding or serious. It is important to be aware of this potential connotation.

Adjective

1. used of competitive activities in which only women take part
   • powder-puff baseball
   • a powder-puff football game