alpha female

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformal

   A woman who is confident, dominant and used to leading others, often in work or social groups.

   Grammar: Countable: she is an alpha female; the alpha females in the office.

   Patterns

   • be an alpha female

   Everyone knew she was the alpha female of the sales team.

   As an alpha female, she rarely let others make decisions for her.

   The article described the alpha female as a natural leader.

2. 2nouncountablebiology

   The female animal that holds the highest rank in a group, such as wolves, apes or hyenas.

   Grammar: Countable and used in animal behavior studies.

   Patterns

   • the alpha female of the pack

   The alpha female in the wolf pack eats first.

   Researchers watched the alpha female lead the troop of baboons.

   Among hyenas, the alpha female is usually the biggest.

Word forms

Common combinations

the alpha female of the pack

The alpha female of the pack guards the den.

a natural alpha female

She is a natural alpha female in every group.

an alpha female and an alpha male

The group has an alpha female and an alpha male.

strong alpha female

The show has a strong alpha female lead.

challenge the alpha female

Younger members rarely challenge the alpha female.

Synonyms and how they differ

dominant woman

This is neutral and plainer, while alpha female is more colorful and sometimes mocking.

matriarch

A matriarch is an older woman who heads a family or group, whereas an alpha female need not be old or a mother.

leader

Leader says nothing about dominance or personality, so it is more neutral than alpha female.

Opposites

Word family

alpha male noun

a dominant man or male animal

alpha noun

the top-ranking member of a group

alpha dog noun

the dominant person or animal in a group

Commonly confused: alpha female or matriarch?

Practice

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