gender dysphoria

American  

[jen-der dis-fawr-ee-uh] / ˈdʒɛn dər dɪsˌfɔr i ə /

noun

1. a psychological condition marked by significant emotional distress and impairment in life functioning, caused by a lack of congruence between gender identity and sex assigned at birth.

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gender dysphoria British  

noun

1. a condition in which a person feels uncertainty or anxiety about his or her birth gender

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Sensitive Note

Some transgender individuals and their advocates object to the use of the word "disorder" to describe this condition and therefore reject use of the variant term gender identity disorder, which was once used more widely. However, others feel that classifying it as a disorder may facilitate access to medical care related to the condition.

Etymology

Origin of gender dysphoria

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Gender dysphoria is defined by the NHS as being caused by a "mismatch" between a person's biological sex and their gender identity.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2023

Gender dysphoria, by contrast, involves a person experiencing mental health issues because their assigned sex does not match their gender identity.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2022

Gender dysphoria is the condition in which a person’s sexual self-perception is different from his or her actual sex.

From Washington Times • Oct. 30, 2022

Gender dysphoria is a medical condition describing the significant distress an individual can experience when their gender identity differs from the sex they’re assigned at birth, according to the judge’s ruling.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2020

Gender dysphoria is a conflict between a person’s physical gender and the gender with which one identifies.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2019