cis

[ sis ]

/ sɪs /

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adjective

cisgender or cissexual: He may not be macho, but he's definitely a cis male.

noun

a person who is cisgender or cissexual.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cis

By shortening

usage note for cis

See trans, gender¹.

Other definitions for cis (2 of 3)

cis-

a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin meaning “on the near side of; on this side of” (cisalpine); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (cisatlantic).

Chemistry. a specialization of this denoting a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups attached on the same side of two atoms linked by a double bond.Compare trans- (def. 2).

a prefix meaning “on the same side of,” referring to the alignment of one’s gender identity with one’s sex assigned at birth (cisgender; cissexual).

Origin of cis-

From Latin cis (adverb and preposition) “on this side, on this side of, within”

Other definitions for cis (3 of 3)

C.I.S.

abbreviation

Commonwealth of Independent States.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cis in a sentence

Numbers USA, FAIR, and CIS were all part of the effort that successfully defeated the DREAM Act in the Senate in 2010.
Inside The Center For Immigration Studies, The Immigration False-Fact Think Tank|Caitlin Dickson|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cis- all of these terms capture that a person is not trans or does not have a gender diverse identity or presentation.
What Each of Facebook’s 51 New Gender Options Means|Debby Herbenick PhD, Aleta Baldwin|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cis Male (see also Cis Man, Cisgender Male, Cisgender Man); a male who identifies as a man/has a masculine gender identity.
What Each of Facebook’s 51 New Gender Options Means|Debby Herbenick PhD, Aleta Baldwin|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When cis men tell me these things, it honestly makes me a little sad.
The Struggle To Find Trans Love|Julia Serano|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

While cis dykes have generally shown little interest in me, my experiences with cis men have in comparison gone rather swimmingly.
The Struggle To Find Trans Love|Julia Serano|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When 'Tom came home from labour and Cis from milking rose,' there was now no more sound of tabor, nor 'merrily went their toes.'
'That Very Mab'|May Kendall and Andrew Lang
Therefore Mr. Posket and Cis are put into an adjoining room.
Dramatic Technique|George Pierce Baker
"The kind of man I adore," Miss Cis said joyfully, though anybody that knew her well 124 could tell she was fooling.
The Annals of Ann|Kate Trimble Sharber
Remembering how they had been teasing Miss Cis about him I kept my eye on her from the minute he walked through the door.
The Annals of Ann|Kate Trimble Sharber
She took a good look at him, then called Miss Cis into the hall to speak her opinion.
The Annals of Ann|Kate Trimble Sharber

British Dictionary definitions for cis (1 of 2)

CIS

abbreviation for

Commonwealth of Independent States

British Dictionary definitions for cis (2 of 2)

cis-

prefix

on this or the near side ofcisalpine

(often in italics) indicating that two groups of atoms in an unsaturated compound lie on the same side of a double bondcis- butadiene Compare trans- (def. 5)

Word Origin for cis-

from Latin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012