The key difference lies in their scope: "female" is a biological term applicable to any species, while "woman" specifically refers to a human female.
Here's a breakdown:
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Female: This term denotes biological sex and is used across all species. You can refer to a "female dog," a "female bird," or a "female plant." It functions as an adjective describing the sex of an organism.
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Woman: This term refers specifically to a human being of the female sex. It's a noun designating a person.
Essentially, all women are female, but not all females are women. Using "female" to describe a human is grammatically correct but often perceived as clinical or distancing, as "woman" is the more common and respectful term. For example, using "female human" sounds unnatural when "woman" is perfectly acceptable.
| Feature | Female | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Biological sex; applicable to all species | Human female |
| Usage | Adjective (primarily) | Noun |
| Species | All species | Humans only |
| Example | Female lion, female mosquito | Woman, women |
In summary, use "female" when discussing the sex of animals or plants, and use "woman" when referring to a human female.
