heroine
/ˈhɛrəʊɪn
/noun
1A woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities: she was a true feminist heroine...
- The ticker-tape reception being afforded later this month to the 47,000 volunteers who were the true heroes and heroines of the Games is richly deserved.
- An event of this magnitude could perhaps one day bring recognition to ‘true’ heroes and heroines in society.
- What India's unsung heroes, and heroines, have achieved these past few weeks against great odds should not go unrewarded or unnoticed.
Synonyms
brave woman, hero, woman of courage, great woman, woman of the hour;
victor, winner, conqueror
star, idol, superstar, megastar, celebrity, celebutante, luminary, lion;
ideal, ideal woman, paragon, exemplar, shining example, perfect example, favourite, darling
informal celeb
1.1The chief female character in a book, play, or film, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize: Jane Austen’s heroines...
- I'd say William Gibson has had the most profound effect on representation of female characters, especially heroines, in both the written and filmic genres of sci-fi, and branching into action.
- More than half of its movies debuted at the Television Critics Association last month focused on women's issues, female characters or heroines.
- Anyone who still believes this myth should look to the dozens of female heroines in comic books.
Synonyms
female protagonist, principal female character;
principal female role, lead actress, lead, leading lady, leading role, female lead, star role, starring role, star part, female star, prima donna, diva
1.2(In mythology and folklore) a woman of superhuman qualities and often semi-divine origin, in particular one whose deeds were the subject of ancient Greek myths.Numerous Greek heroes and heroines commit manslaughter in myth....
- Propertius' romantic, impossible dream had been that Cynthia would be like heroines of myth.
- But what happens when the idea of drawing images of womanhood on the contemporary stage is born through juxtaposition of the two ancient heroines, moulded to the necessities of the experiences of womanhood?
Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'demigoddess, venerated woman'): from French héroïne or Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs 'hero'.