womanlywom‧an‧ly /ˈwʊmənli/ adjective 
Examples
her soft womanly figure► see thesaurus at woman—womanliness noun [uncountable]
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He thought that since she'd had children, she'd grown more attractive and womanly.
- She had a plump, womanly figure.
- the conventional womanly virtues of patience and sense
- Am I proud of resorting to stereotypical womanly wiles when I am supposed to be a postmodernist feminist egalitarian?
- Feminism once held out a promise that there would be some precincts of womanly life that were not all about men.
- From behind she looked even more womanly.
- Her figure is womanly, but as Margarett draws her, the force of her sensuality is androgynous.
- She looked more adult and womanly than she really was.
- She sang a melancholy torch song with a deep, womanly voice.
- She was unable to feel the conventional womanly roles and knew only the demands of her art.
THESAURUSrelating to women► female
Word family relating to women or girls: · female voters· Advertisers try to sell things by using images of the female body.
► feminine used about qualities that are considered to be typical of women: · You must not cry or show any other feminine weakness.· the ideal of feminine beauty
► womanly behaving, dressing etc in a way that is thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman – used to show approval: · her womanly figure· the womanly virtues of compassion and patience
► girly/girlie informal behaving or dressing in a way that is thought to be typical of young girls, or suitable for a girl – often used disapprovingly: · Stop being so girly! It's only a mouse!· a very girlie pink dress
► effeminate disapproving a man who is effeminate looks or behaves like a woman: · His long blonde hair made him look rather effeminate.· a pale effeminate-looking young man
Longman Language Activatorfor women or relating to women► women's use this about things that are designed for women or done by women, and not designed for or done by men: · She's the fashion editor for a women's magazine.· Why don't they ever show women's football on TV?· the latest and most fashionable trends in women's clothes
► ladies' formal used, especially in the past, about things that are designed for women or done by women, and not designed for or done by men : · I managed to get a place on the university ladies' golf team.· the ladies' tennis tournament· Ladies' fashions are on the first floor.the ladies' room/the ladies' (=the women's toilets in a public place): · Could you tell me where the ladies' room is?
► female use this about behaviour or personal qualities that are traditionally thought to be typical of women, or about physical characteristics that belong to women: · Many women reject the traditional female roles of wife and mother.· Patience and kindness are often seen as female qualities.· the female reproductive system
► feminine looking attractive in a way that is traditionally thought to be typical of a woman: · Hairstyles this autumn are long, soft and very feminine.· Lindsay wears very feminine clothes - pretty dresses with flowers on and things like that.· the rounded feminine shape
► effeminate use this about a man who behaves like a woman or looks like a woman: · He was very young and handsome in a slightly effeminate way.· The way he walks is a bit effeminate, and he sounds effeminate too.
► womanly womanly qualities are typical of a grown woman, especially one who is sensible, kind etc: · She had a plump, womanly figure.· the conventional womanly virtues of patience and sense· He thought that since she'd had children, she'd grown more attractive and womanly.
WORD FAMILYnounwomanwomanhoodwomankindwomanizerwomanizingwomanlinessadjectivewomanlywomanishverbwomanize
behaving, dressing etc in a way that is thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman – used to show approval SYN feminine → manly: her soft womanly figure► see thesaurus at woman—womanliness noun [uncountable]