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

They freely conceded that Tickle was discriminated against, but on the grounds of sex, rather than gender identity.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

All these works are overshadowed by Morris’s gender identity, which is no longer as perplexing as it was at the time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

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

As the girl’s gender identity was firmly established as female at the time her condition was discovered, a decision to implement feminizing surgery along with corresponding hormonal treatments seems correct.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides