Australia PM's misogyny speech prompts dictionary rethink

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's fiery speech calling the opposition leader a misogynist has prompted a dictionary to broaden the word's definition.

Gillard, the nation's first woman leader, lashed out last week at Tony Abbott in parliament, saying she would not be "lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man".

Her comments sparked debate about whether Abbott really had a pathological hatred of women, as misogyny is defined in Australia's Macquarie Dictionary.

Editor Sue Butler said it would now be broadened to include "entrenched prejudice against women".

"We need to add a second definition, slightly stronger than sexist but heading ... towards entrenched prejudice rather than a visceral hatred," she said.