third gender

[thurd jen-der]

noun

1. Anthropology.,  any of various gender classifications in societies that recognize a gender other than male or female.

2. a person who identifies as a gender other than male or female or as neither male nor female.

adjective

1. being or relating to a person who belongs to a gender classification or identifies as a gender other than male or female.

Word History and Origins

Origin of third gender¹

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

While the country has passed trans-inclusive legislation and recognised in law a "third gender", stigma and discrimination remain.

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They said their win sparked a wider discussion in their own home country, including around offering a third gender option on passports - something Switzerland has so far resisted.

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Now over-18s can change to male, female or diverse, a third gender option that already exists under German law.

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At least a dozen states offer some form of third gender ID on birth certificates.

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They embrace a distinct ‘third gender,’ part of a burgeoning LGBTQ+ movement worldwide.

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