Effeminization

/ɪˌfɛmɪnəˈzeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

American English: the process of becoming or being made effeminate; the state of having lost masculine qualities.

Etymology

American English nominalization of 'effeminize,' formed with the '-ization' suffix standard in American English. Parallels British 'effeminisation' exactly except for spelling conventions.

Kelly Says

American vs. British dictionaries both include this word officially, but in actual American books and articles it barely shows up, making it a perfect example of words that exist on paper but not in real language use.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

American spelling of nominalized effemination; same pathology-coding as British variants.

Inclusive Usage

Avoid. Use 'adoption of feminine expression' or 'gender-nonconforming presentation'.

Inclusive Alternatives

["adoption of feminine expression","gender-nonconforming presentation"]

Related Words

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