Definition

Adjective 1. Not behaving in a way considered proper or appropriate for a lady; lacking the manners, style, or refinement traditionally associated with women of good breeding. - This describes actions, speech, or appearance that are deemed coarse, indecorous, or unfeminine according to conventional social standards for women.

Usage and Examples

• General Description:

  • Her loud laughter and casual posture were considered unladylike by her strict grandmother.
  • In some cultures, speaking one's mind too forcefully is still viewed as unladylike behavior.

• Direct Modification:

  • It was an unladylike gesture.
  • She dismissed the criticism as an outdated concern for unladylike conduct.

Advanced Usage and Nuance

• The term is inherently subjective and reflects specific, often historical or conservative, social norms regarding femininity and class. Its use can carry a critical or disapproving tone.
• It can be used ironically or humorously to challenge those very norms.
  • "They said my ambition was unladylike, so I built my career anyway."

Variants and Related Words

• Ladylike (adj): Possessing behavior, manners, or style considered proper for a lady. This is the direct antonym.
  • She behaved in a quiet, ladylike manner.

Synonyms

• Ungentlemanly (adj): The male equivalent, lacking behavior proper for a gentleman.
• Unrefined
• Indelicate
• Uncouth (when referring to manners)

Antonyms

• Ladylike
• Refined
• Decorous
• Genteel

Idioms and Common Phrases

• While there are no specific idioms using "unladylike," the concept is central to phrases like:
  • "Act like a lady": An imperative urging someone to conform to traditional standards of feminine propriety, the opposite of which would be to act in an unladylike way.

Adjective

1. lacking the behavior or manner or style considered proper for a lady