1. An adult female human.
2. Women considered as a group; womankind: "Woman feels the invidious distinctions of sex exactly as the black man does those of color" (Elizabeth Cady Stanton).
3. An adult female human belonging to a specified occupation, group, nationality, or other category. Often used in combination: an Englishwoman; congresswoman; a saleswoman.
4. Feminine quality or aspect; womanliness.
5. A female servant or subordinate.
6. Informal.
   1. A wife.
   2. A female lover or sweetheart. See Usage Note at lady, man, person.

(one's) own woman

1. Independent in judgment or action: She has always been her own woman.

1. Without exception.

[Middle English, from Old English wimman, variant of wīfman : wīf, woman + man, person; see man.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.