An adult female human. It can refer to a person’s gender identity or biological sex, depending on context.
From Old English 'wīfmann', combining 'wīf' (woman, wife) and 'mann' (person). Over time, sounds blended and shifted into 'woman.'
Originally, 'man' just meant 'person,' and 'wifman' meant 'female person.' The history of 'woman' and 'man' reveals how language once separated gender and personhood differently than we do now.
'Woman' has long been used not only as a neutral category for adult human females but also in ways that subordinated women, such as generic 'man' vs. marked 'woman' or roles like 'woman driver' where male is treated as default. Historically, laws and customs often restricted women’s rights, and language around 'woman' reflected and reinforced these hierarchies.
Use 'woman' for adult humans who identify as women, without implying secondary status or using it as a marked exception (e.g., avoid 'female doctor' unless gender is relevant). Be precise and respectful about self-identification, including trans women and nonbinary people when they use the term for themselves.
["person","adult","individual","women and other marginalized genders (when relevant)"]
When discussing history, explicitly acknowledge women’s contributions in science, politics, labor, and culture that were often omitted or credited to men, and avoid language that treats women as exceptions in professional or intellectual domains.
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