científica

Científica is a Spanish word that functions as both a feminine noun and an adjective. As a noun, la científica refers to a woman who works in science or engages in scientific research; the masculine counterpart is el científico. The term appears in biographies, media, and academic contexts to identify female scientists and in plural forms as las científicas. As an adjective, científica agrees with feminine nouns and is used to describe topics or domains related to science, as in investigación científica or la comunidad científica. The masculine form is científico.

Etymology and form: cientifica derives from ciencia (science) with the suffix -tica, plus the feminine -a ending. Related forms exist for masculine use (científico) and for other gendered constructions in Spanish.

Usage notes: Spanish uses gendered forms for professional titles, and la científica is standard when the gender is female. In mixed-gender lists or generic references, masculine forms have historically been used, though many style guides encourage gender-inclusive language, such as alternating forms or context-based choices. The term can appear in academic, media, and policy discussions about science and gender.

Examples: Una científica italiana presentó su investigación. La vida científica del siglo XX. La comunidad científica. Investigación científica no indica género, but the surrounding nouns may.

See also: Ciencia; Científico; Historia de la ciencia; Género gramatical en español; Lingüística del español.