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What is the Meaning of “Woman”?

Woman
/ˈwʊm.ən/

a grown-up female person, as opposed to a girl

Definition of Woman

Quick Meaning of Woman

a grown-up female person, as opposed to a girl

Detailed Definition of Woman

an adult female human being

How to Pronounce Woman

IPA: /ˈwʊm.ən/
wom an

Stress pattern: Oo (2-syllable word).

Tip: The vowel changes completely: WOO-man (singular) vs WIM-in (plural). Completely different sounds.

Watch out: WUM-in (wrong stress/vowel), say WOO-man instead

Full pronunciation guide for “woman” →

Origin and Etymology of Woman

Old English wīfmann (wife-person), from wīf (woman) + mann (person)

How to Use Woman in a Sentence

Each example shows “woman” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.

  • “She is a strong woman.”
    A2 daily
  • “A woman walked into the office.”
    A1 daily
  • “The woman in the photo is my teacher.”
    A2 conversation

Synonyms and Antonyms of Woman

Common Synonyms for Woman

Smart Synonyms for Woman — When to Use Each

female
more formal or biological context
lady
polite or respectful term for a woman

Antonyms of Woman

See all synonyms for “woman” →

Common Collocations with Woman

These phrases pair with “woman” in everyday English:

  • young woman
  • businesswoman
  • older woman
  • woman of the year

Common Mistakes When Using Woman

Even fluent speakers slip up with “woman”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:

✗ Wrong: womans
✓ Correct: women
Why: Irregular plural: do not add -s, use women
✗ Wrong: a womans bag
✓ Correct: a woman's bag
Why: Use apostrophe + s for possession: woman's bag, not womans bag

Words Confused With Woman

  • Woman vs Female: Female is adjective or biological; woman is noun for adult

Other Forms of Woman

Frequently Asked Questions About Woman

What is the meaning of "Woman"?

a grown-up female person, as opposed to a girl

How do you pronounce "Woman"?

The IPA is /ˈwʊm.ən/. The vowel changes completely: WOO-man (singular) vs WIM-in (plural). Completely different sounds.

What part of speech is "Woman"?

"Woman" is a noun at A1 level (Common European Framework).

What are synonyms for "Woman"?

Common synonyms include female, lady, adult female.

How do you use "Woman" in a sentence?

For example: "She is a strong woman."

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