A.Word.A.Day --femme fatale

A.Word.A.Day

Home

Jul 11, 2012

This week's theme
Words borrowed from French

This week's words
risque
billet-doux
femme fatale
pudeur
dishabille

Mata Hari, the archetypal femme fatale

Photo: Lucien Walery

Discuss

Feedback

RSS/XML

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

femme fatale

PRONUNCIATION:

(fem fuh-TAHL)

plural femmes fatales (fem fuh-TAHLZ)

MEANING:

noun: An attractive and seductive woman, especially one who leads others into disaster.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French, literally fatal woman. Earliest documented use: 1879. Also see siren.

USAGE:

"The film sees Depp's math teacher character falling for Jolie's femme fatale as she spins a web of mystery."
John Irish; A Minute With: Angelina Jolie; Reuters (UK); Dec 9, 2010.

See more usage examples of femme fatale in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage. -Ray Bradbury, writer (1920-2012)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise