he/she
AmericanGender
Is he gender-neutral? See he 1.
Etymology
Origin of he/she
First recorded in 1975–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It cannot result in a conviction, but if the court is not satisfied that the accused committed the acts alleged, then he/she will be acquitted.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Employees of executives often tell me, “Yes, my manager listens but I don’t think he/she does anything with the feedback I provide.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
The indicator’s creator reported that it had a better track record predicting the U.S. stock market’s 10-year return than any of the other valuation indicators of which he/she was aware.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 27, 2026
It says school officials “should not consent to access by an immigration enforcement officer unless he/she declares exigent circumstances or has a federal judicial warrant.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2025
One of the other patients, one who was so swaddled in gauze and bandages that I couldn’t see if he/she was a man or woman, is gone.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
