common gender

American  

noun

1. in English, a noun that is the same whether it is referring to either gender, such as cat, people, spouse.

2. in some languages, such as Latin, a noun that may be masculine or feminine, but not neuter.

3. in some languages, such as Danish, a noun derived from a masculine or feminine word but separate from a neuter form.

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Example Sentences

For example, the most common gender identity written in by the students was "genderfluid," which was given by more than 40% of the write-ins.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2022

I was given opportunity to present to our comparatively small public the freshly minted words, die, chis, and chim, as common gender pronouns, designed to avoid certain awkward situations frequently arising in English composition.

From Time Magazine Archive

Gender, "common gender," 31. definition of, 30. distinguished from sex, 30. in English, as compared with other languages, 29. modes of marking, in nouns, 32. of personal pronouns, 60. of relative pronouns, 80.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

The noun "angel" being of common gender suits the case admirably, and the epithet is sure of being favorably received.

From Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)

There are no pronouns of common gender; hence those nouns are referred to as follows: 1.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas