epicene

adjective

ep·​i·​cene ˈe-pə-ˌsēn 

1

of a noun : having but one form to indicate either sex

2

a

: having characteristics typical of the other sex

b

: effeminate

3

: lacking characteristics of either sex

epicene noun

epicenism

ˈe-pə-ˌsē-ˌni-zəm 

ˌe-pə-ˈsē-

noun

Synonyms

• effeminate
• effete
• sissified
• sissy
• unmanly
• womanish

Examples of epicene in a Sentence

an ancient statue of a young man of graceful, epicene beauty

Recent Examples on the Web

For many men — and many women — these figures remain far more admirable than the epicene children of liberal imagination. —Samuel Goldman, The Week, 3 Nov. 2021

His name is Strat, and he is played with beguiling epicene virility and lungs of steel by the willowy Andrew Polec. —Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin epicoenus, from Greek epikoinos, from epi- + koinos common — more at co-

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1