gender identity

American  

noun

1. a person's inner sense of being male, female, or another gender, usually developed during early childhood as a result of parental rearing practices and societal influences and strengthened during puberty by hormonal changes.

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Sensitive Note

One's gender identity may continue to evolve over time and may diverge from the male/female gender division. See the usage note at gender ¹ .

Example Sentences

But on behalf of all survivors everywhere, of any gender, identity or age, let me give you some blanket answers to “Why now?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Das, who grew up in the eastern state of Odisha, said institutional support for understanding gender identity was already scarce.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

On the other side is the reality that some minors don’t want their parents to know about their gender identity, sometimes because they fear for their safety.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

It took coming out and years of evaluating my gender identity to uncover the question stirring at the root of my fixation: Do I want Augustus Waters, or do I want to be Augustus Waters?

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

It is clear by this that sex of rearing, rather than genetic determinants, plays a greater role in the establishment of gender identity.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides