> female, adj.; feminine; woman(ly); womanlike; womanish; effeminate. These adjectives all share the sense “of, relating to, or involving women.” Female is a ne

> female, adj.; feminine; woman(ly); womanlike; womanish; effeminate. These adjectives all share the sense “of, relating to, or involving women.” Female is a neutral term usually used to indicate the sex of a person (or an animal or plant), in contrast with male <a female cadet> <my female coworkers>. Feminine typically refers to what are traditionally considered a woman’s favorable qualities <feminine grace>. Womanly often carries these positive connotations as well <womanly intuition>, but it’s also used to distinguish an adult female from a girl <her womanly figure>. (Woman is sometimes used attributively where female would be more natural <a woman lawyer>. These constructions are best avoided.) Garner's Modern English Usage