adjective

butch

buuch

adjective

Noticeably masculine in appearance or manner, especially describing a woman.

"She had a butch style, all boots and cropped hair."

noun

A lesbian who presents in a masculine way.

"She identifies as butch and prefers traditionally masculine clothing."

How to Use Butch

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTough, masculine-presenting — commonly used within lesbian communities to describe a masculine style or identity.

When to use it

Can be neutral or affectionate within LGBTQ+ communities but can read as a stereotype outside that context.

butcher comparative, more butch comparative, butched past tense, butches plural, butches singular, butchest superlative, most butch superlative

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She had a _____ style, all boots and cropped hair.

Probably originally short for "butcher"; the meaning "masculine lesbian" developed in the 1940s.

tch etch itch Dutch catch batch pitch watch witch hutch hatch ditch