gender critical

American  

[jen-der krit-i-kuhl] / ˈdʒɛn dər ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl /

Or gender-critical

adjective

1. relating to, holding, or promoting the belief that sex is a binary and unchangeable characteristic that is determined at birth and that dictates a person's social, linguistic, and legal status or position.

---

Etymology

Origin of gender critical

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

She alleged harassment and victimisation under the Equality Act 2010 relating to her gender critical beliefs.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

The ruling was also welcomed by some other gender critical groups including Scottish Lesbians, which describes itself as a grassroots campaigning organisation with around 70 members, made up of "lesbians of all ages across Scotland."

From BBC • May 12, 2025

His comments were ridiculed by then Tory leader Sunak – and did not go down well with gender critical campaigners in his own party.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2025

Her perspectives also track, to a point, with so-called gender critical beliefs that center on the differences between biological sex and gender expression.

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2022

While gender critical organisation Sex Matters, has welcomed the move and called it a "straightforward explanation".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2022