androgynous
Americanadjective
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neither clearly masculine nor clearly feminine in appearance.
Their new clothing collection is inspired by the androgynous look of many rock stars.
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having an ambiguous gender or having both masculine and feminine gender characteristics.
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possessing both male and female physical sex traits.
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Botany. having staminate and pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence.
adjective
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botany having male and female flowers in the same inflorescence, as cuckoo pint
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having male and female characteristics; hermaphrodite
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of androgynous
Explanation
If you describe something as androgynous, you are saying that you can't classify it as strictly male or female. If you are looking for an androgynous name, for example, choose Pat. You can see the meaning of androgynous in its parts: In Greek, andros means "male" and gyn means "female." Someone who is androgynous has both male and female characteristics, and therefore may be mistaken for being a member of the opposite gender. Don't confuse androgynous with unisex, which describes objects or places used by both males and females, like a unisex restroom.
Vocabulary lists containing androgynous
Almost American Girl
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Between Shades of Gray
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Dry
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The chapters alternate between Aubrey’s and Lindsey’s narrations and their voices are so similar that it is easy to mix them up; also, the androgynous character names raise the possibility of gender confusion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Freije's anonymous and androgynous figures are open to viewers' interpretation, but most would consider them striking and memorable regardless of their meaning - judges are likely to be impressed by the artist's distinctive style.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
If you’re wondering what’s included in their letters to Santa this year, Jinkx is asking for the dismantling of the patriarchy, the rise of feminine rule and unabashed freedom for androgynous people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
"It's like the popularity of his androgynous style was waiting to happen," Pande says.
From BBC ● May 31, 2025
“Hold on. You’re not an androgynous bookworm?” she asks, and pulls out her phone.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
