A woman is an adult female human being. Just as boys grow up to become men, girls grow up to become women. The word describes someone who has gone through the physical changes of adolescence and maturity.

Throughout history, women have been scientists, artists, leaders, teachers, athletes, inventors, and explorers. Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking work in physics and chemistry. Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Countless women have shaped history through their courage, intelligence, and determination, even when societies didn't always give them equal opportunities.

In conversation, you might hear someone say “the woman at the store” to describe an adult female person they encountered, or “my mom is a strong woman” to express admiration. The plural is women, which sounds like “WIM-in” rather than “WOE-men.”

A young female person is called a girl, while an adult is a woman. The exact age when someone transitions from girl to woman isn't fixed by a specific birthday. It happens gradually as someone matures physically and takes on adult responsibilities. Different cultures mark this transition in different ways, but it generally happens during the teenage years.