HEROINE
heroine
(noun) the main good female character in a work of fiction
heroine
(noun) a woman possessing heroic qualities or a woman who has performed heroic deeds
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
heroine
A female hero.
A female lead character.
Usage notes
• In sense 1, hero, the masculine of heroine, is sometimes used, though it is still acceptable to use the feminine.
She is an American hero (or heroine).
• Like feminine nouns formed with the suffix -ess, heroine refers only to females, whereas hero can refer to both males and females.
Who is your favorite hero? (answer can refer to either sex)
Who is your favorite heroine? (answer can refer only to females)
Synonyms
• shero
Source: Wiktionary
Her"o*ine, n. Etym: [F. héroïne, L. heroina, Gr. Hero.]
1. A woman of an heroic spirit.
The heroine assumed the woman's place. Dryden.
2. The principal female person who figures in a remarkable action, or
as the subject of a poem or story.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition