A person who advocates for the rights, interests, or equality of females; a supporter of female empowerment or feminism.
From 'female' plus the suffix '-ist' (one who practices or believes in). This is a variant or earlier form of 'feminist,' though 'femalist' is much rarer in modern usage.
Before 'feminist' became the standard term in English, various alternatives like 'femalist,' 'femeist,' and others competed—lexicographers debate which terms were genuinely used versus which appeared only in a single text by an author experimenting with language.
Rare historical term sometimes used to describe those who advocate for women's rights, but often with diminishing or trivializing undertones compared to 'feminist'.
Avoid in favor of 'feminist,' which has clearer definition and historical ownership by the movement itself.
["feminist","women's rights advocate"]
The term 'feminist' emerged from women's own organizing and self-naming; use that terminology to honor the movement's agency.
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