androgynous

adjective

an·​drog·​y·​nous an-ˈdrä-jə-nəs 

1

: having the characteristics or nature of both male and female

androgynous heroines

2

a

: neither specifically feminine nor masculine

the androgynous pronoun them

b

: suitable to or for either sex

androgynous clothing

3

: having traditional male and female roles obscured or reversed

an androgynous marriage

androgynously adverb

Synonyms

• genderless
• unisex
• unisexual

Examples of androgynous in a Sentence

the androgynous hairdos favored by the hip

an actor whose androgynous looks are at the heart of his appeal

Recent Examples on the Web

During the space of about a presidential term, Bowie went from Marc Bolan’s personal mime to a coffeehouse space oddity before settling on Ziggy Stardust, the androgynous alien hero of his classic 1972 album, sent from Mars to liberate the people of Earth from their hangups. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2024

Best known for her thick, eye-dusting bangs and androgynous dressing, Hardy’s look became synonymous with effortless French style. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 June 2024

As an Yves Saint Laurent muse, Hardy was one of the original Le Smoking influencers, championing slick tailoring deemed androgynous in comparison to the miniskirts of the ’60s. —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 12 June 2024

Punk was quite an androgynous sort of movement really. —Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek andrógynos "having male and female characteristics, hermaphrodite" (from andro- andro- + -gynos, adjective derivative of gynḗ "woman") + -ous — more at queen entry 1

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

androgynous

adjective

an·​drog·​y·​nous an-ˈdrä-jə-nəs 

: having both male and female characteristics

androgynously adverb

androgyny

-nē 

noun

Medical Definition

androgynous

adjective

an·​drog·​y·​nous an-ˈdräj-ə-nəs 

: having the characteristics or nature of both male and female

androgyny

-nē 

noun

plural androgynies