women

See also: wǒmen, wǒmén, -women, and Women

English

Alternative forms

• See woman

Etymology

From Middle English wimmen, from Old English wīfmenn (“women”), from wīf (“female”) + menn (“men, persons, human beings”), equivalent to wife +‎ men. Spelling (with o) influenced by the singular; see woman for more.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈwɪmɪn/, /ˈwɪmən/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

  • Audio (CA)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɪmɪn
• (General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈwʊmɘn/, /ˈwɘmɘn/
  • Rhymes: -ʊmən
• Hyphenation: wom‧en
• Homophone: woman (some dialects, common in New Zealand and South Africa)

Noun

women

1. plural of woman

   Three women went for a walk.

   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:women.

Related terms

• women's lib
• womenfolk

Noun

women

1. Misspelling of woman.

Anagrams

• Mowen, menow

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Middle English

Noun

women pl

1. Alternative form of wommen