Yes, the word "female" can be used to denote gender.
According to the provided reference, the word "female" is primarily used to indicate the gender of someone. It's often paired with nouns where the gender wouldn't otherwise be assumed to include women or girls. For example, while the word "people" or "human" is generally understood to include both men and women, other nouns may not. This is why we often see terms like "female scientist," where the use of "female" explicitly clarifies the gender.
Examples of Usage
Here are a few examples illustrating how "female" is used to denote gender:
- Female athlete: This specifies that the athlete is a woman or girl.
- Female doctor: This indicates that the doctor is a woman.
- Female character: This specifies that the character in a story is a woman or girl.
Key takeaway
The word "female" serves an important function in specifying gender, especially when combined with nouns that may not inherently imply inclusion of women or girls. It clarifies and emphasizes gender in specific contexts.
