An adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun, such as 'red', 'happy', or 'large'. It tells us what kind, which one, or how many.
From Latin 'adjectivum (nomen)', meaning 'added (name)', from 'adiectus' (thrown to, added), from 'adicere' (to add to). It was the 'added word' that joined onto a noun.
Adjectives are like lenses that color how we see a noun: 'house' is plain, but 'haunted house' is a story. The name literally means 'add-on word', which is exactly its job.
Gendered adjectives like “bossy,” “hysterical,” or “shrill” have been disproportionately applied to women, shaping perceptions of competence and emotionality. Descriptive language in media and evaluations often uses different adjective sets for men and women in similar roles.
Choose adjectives that describe behavior or outcomes without relying on gendered stereotypes, and apply evaluative terms consistently across genders.
Feminist linguists and scholars have documented gender bias in adjectives and helped organizations revise evaluation and media language to be more equitable.
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