heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən  ˈhir- 

ˈhe-rə-

1

a

: a mythological or legendary woman often of divine descent having great strength or ability

b

: a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities

American heroines such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks

remembered as the heroine of the flood

2

a

: the principal female character in a literary or dramatic work

the heroine of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

b

: the central female figure in an event or period

Examples of heroine in a Sentence

The town remembered her as the heroine of the flood and erected a statue in her honor.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s also a peak vulnerability that Beth [Gibbons] achieves here in her vocals that is so beautiful in this bleak, harsh sonic landscape, like a lost heroine in a dark forest. —Liza Lentini, SPIN, 13 Sep. 2024

Like Edward Scissorhands on his hilltop or Bruce Wayne in his manor, the Beetlejuice heroine Lydia Deetz (played by Winona Ryder) is an observer, holding herself at a remove with her photography and in denial about her discomfort with being excluded. —Joshua Rivera, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024

Moore in particular, as the great exponent of the melodramatic heroine in the films of Todd Haynes, is in her element. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2024

That’s Emily in a nutshell, the plucky, overly naive, yet always resourceful marketing agency heroine who has spent three previous seasons overcoming French snobbery toward her ideas and enchanting all nearby men in the 20 to 50 age range. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin heroina, from Greek hērōinē, feminine of hērōs

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

heroine

noun

her·​o·​ine ˈher-ə-wən 

1

: a woman in legends or myths who has great courage and daring

2

: a woman admired for her achievements and qualities

3

: the chief female figure in a literary work or in an event or period