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

Ellen is a more passive counterpart to Thomasin, the teenage heroine played by fellow big-eyed blonde Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch, in that she’s also been pathologized by the strictures of her era, her psychic sensitivities interpreted by those around her as signs of hysteria or mental illness. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

But worldly wise with blistering Mikey Madison as an indomitable heroine pursued by a Russian oligarch’s super-rich son. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 12 Dec. 2024

The heroine learns of rifts that have opened throughout the kingdom of Hyrule, with citizens being taken through these portals — and Link, who is missing, may be one of them. —Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Moana 2 follows a similar theme with the heroine setting sail once again, this time in search of a hidden island. —Ally Neagen, Glamour, 2 Dec. 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