heroine
gb/hˈɛɹoʊən/ us/hˈɛɹoʊən/
B1
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
woman admired for courage
A woman who is respected and loved because she is very brave or does something great.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a heroine to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "heroine" with "heroin" (a dangerous illegal drug). "Heroine" always has two syllables /ˈhɛr.oʊ.ɪn/ and means a brave woman, while "heroin" /ˈhɛr.oʊ.ɪn/ is the drug. Also, in modern English, "hero" is often used for both men and women, so saying "She is my hero" is normal and correct.
Synonyms
hero (Gender-neutral term more commonly used in modern English for both men and women.)
|
female hero (Explicitly marks gender; less idiomatic but very clear in meaning.)
|
role model (Focuses on being someone to copy or follow, not only on courage.)
Antonyms
coward (Opposite in terms of bravery; a person who lacks courage.)
Collocations
national heroine
|war heroine
|local heroine
|folk heroine
|unsung heroine
|childhood heroine
Themes
people
|society
|values
|history
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Greta Thunberg has become a heroine for many young climate activists.
- The nurse was hailed as a heroine after saving several patients during the fire.
- As a child, she considered her grandmother a true heroine for raising five kids alone.
- The rescue workers were praised as heroes and heroines by the media.
- He called her his heroine for speaking up when everyone else was silent.
Learner examples
- She is a heroine to many girls in our town.
- The city made her a heroine after she saved the boy.
- He sees his mother as a heroine because she works so hard.
- The news called the young woman a heroine.
- Many people think of her as a modern heroine.
Noun
B1
entity
2
main female character in story
The most important woman or girl in a story, movie, or play.
Usage pattern:
the heroine of [a story / film]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "heroine" must always mean a real person, but it is very common for fictional characters. Also, some learners avoid "heroine" and say "woman hero"; this is understandable but less natural than "female hero" or simply using gender-neutral "hero".
Synonyms
female lead (Common in film and theater talk; focuses on the main role, not necessarily on admirable qualities.)
|
protagonist (Gender-neutral technical term in literature and film studies; can be male, female, or non-binary.)
Antonyms
antagonist (Refers to the main opposing character, often against the heroine or hero.)
Collocations
the heroine of the story
|romantic heroine
|tragic heroine
|classic heroine
|Shakespearean heroine
|comic-book heroine
Themes
stories
|media
|literature
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The film’s heroine is a young lawyer fighting corruption in her hometown.
- Jane Eyre is one of the most famous heroines in English literature.
- Critics praised the series for giving its heroine real flaws and difficult choices.
- The novel’s heroine starts out shy but becomes more confident by the end.
- She was cast as the heroine in an action movie set in space.
Learner examples
- The heroine of the book is a poor girl.
- Emma is my favorite heroine in all the movies.
- The heroine faces many problems in the story.
- In this game, you play as a brave heroine.
- The heroine finally finds her family at the end.
Grammar
Dictionary form
heroine
IPA
GB/hˈɛɹoʊən/
US/hˈɛɹoʊən/
Syllables & stress
heroine (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (heroine)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: heroine
- Plural: heroines
Word family
Expressions
heroine of the piece
1/hˈɛɹoʊən əv ðə pˈis/
fixed phrase
literary
central female figure in story
The main woman in a story or situation, the one people talk about the most.
Examples
- In this chapter, the heroine of the piece finally appears.
- At the award ceremony, the scientist became the heroine of the piece when everyone thanked her.
- By the end of the play, it is clear that the quiet sister is the true heroine of the piece.
unsung heroine
1/ʌnsˈʌŋ hˈɛɹoʊən/
fixed phrase
brave woman not recognized
A woman who does something brave or very helpful, but other people do not notice or praise her.
Examples
- The teachers who stayed late every night were the unsung heroines of the project.
- She may not be famous, but she is an unsung heroine in her community.
- The documentary focuses on the unsung heroines of the civil rights movement.