Origin: Greek suffix -ist
Feminist has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
a supporter of feminism
"The feminist spoke passionately at the rally to advocate for equal rights."
an advocate of feminism; a person who believes in bringing about the equality of the sexes (of women and men) in all aspects of public and private life
"She works as a dedicated feminist to ensure equal opportunities for both women and men in every area of society."
In plain English: A feminist is someone who believes that women and men should have equal rights, opportunities, and respect.
"She joined the local group to support herself and other feminists working for gender equality."
relating to or in accordance with feminism.
"The feminist magazine featured articles on women's rights and gender equality."
In plain English: A feminist is someone who believes that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.
"She is a feminist who believes everyone should have equal opportunities at work."
Usage: Use "feminist" as both a noun for someone advocating gender equality and an adjective describing ideas, movements, or perspectives aligned with that goal. When used adjectivally, it modifies concepts like literature or policies rather than individual people's identities unless specifically highlighting their advocacy role.
The word feminist entered English in 1852, derived from the Latin femininus and ultimately from fēmina, meaning "woman." It was formed by adding a suffix to describe someone who advocates for women's rights.