DictionaryAI

heroine

SayHE-roh-in/ˈhɛɹoʊɪn/UK/ˈhɛɹəʊɪn/

Pluralheroines

Often confused with heroin

3 meanings of heroine

Practice

  1. 1
    honored womannouncountable
    A woman or girl who is admired for being brave or doing great things.

    The nurse who saved the children became a local heroine.

    My grandmother has always been my heroine.

    Similarhero

    Note
  2. 2
    main characternouncountable
    The main woman or girl character in a book, movie, or play.

    The heroine of the book is a girl who runs away to join the circus.

    In the movie, the heroine solves the mystery on her own.

    Similarprotagonist, lead

    Oppositevillain

    Note
  3. 3
    brave (quality)adjectiverare
    Like a heroine, or brave like a hero.
    How otherwise than by a violation of a pledge could he have conquered Limerick, protected as it then was by the heroine bravery of its defenders.
    1824, Daniel O’Connell, The Life and Speeches of Daniel O’ConnellHere, heroine means heroic, brave like a heroine.
    Her Brows ſoft Fur was of a paler Dye, / Conformable to that which prettily / Peep’d on her upper Lip, and cowardly / Made shew of Heroine Virility.
    1669, [William Wycherley], Hero and LeanderHere, Heroine means heroic, like a brave heroine.

    Similarheroic

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–2

From Latin and Greek, where it was the word for a female hero. It has been used in English since 1587.

Meaning 3

Partly from the noun heroine, and partly from hero + -ine.