femme
UK[fam]US[fɛm]
n
A woman, especially one who is stylish, sophisticated, or alluring.
n
(In LGBTQ+ contexts) A lesbian who adopts a traditionally feminine appearance and role.
Etymology
The English word 'femme' is a direct loanword from modern French, where it simply means "woman." Its ultimate origin is Latin 'fēmina,' meaning "woman" or "female," which itself is of uncertain etymology but may derive from a root meaning "to suckle" or "she who feeds." The journey into English is relatively recent, bypassing the more common Latinate path that gave us 'female' and 'feminine.' In English, 'femme' carries connotations beyond the basic "woman," often implying a specific, cultivated feminine identity or aesthetic, a semantic specialization that occurred upon its adoption into the fashion and later LGBTQ+ lexicons.
Analysis
The word 'femme' is a direct borrowing from modern French. It is a simplex word in English, meaning it functions as a single, unsegmentable morpheme derived from a foreign language root.
Examples
She carried herself with the effortless grace of a Parisian femme.
The film noir featured a classic femme fatale who ensnared the detective.
In their relationship, she identifies as a femme.