nonbinary

adjective

non·​bi·​na·​ry ˌnän-ˈbī-nə-rē 

-ˌner-ē,

-ˌne-rē

: not binary: such as

a

: not restricted to two things or parts

nonbinary voting

b

: of, relating to, or being a system of numbers that does not use 2 as its base

nonbinary math

c

or non-binary : relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female

non-binary people

… an effort to create more equality for nonbinary and transgender students across campus.

—Phoebe Roe

… many people with nonbinary genders use "they" and "their" pronouns …

—Lucy Brisbane

… the normalization of sharing pronouns emphasizes the fact that everyone has preferred pronouns, not just trans and non-binary folks.

—Christina M. Xiao

Examples of nonbinary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Orr said trans people who want to legally change their name or update their gender marker on identification forms should consider doing so as soon as possible, though the quagmire of state laws can make navigating name changes difficult for trans and nonbinary Americans. —Avery Lotz, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

These challenges concern all of us — not just our female DPs, but their trans, nonbinary and male counterparts. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024

Further data is needed to better understand differences in cardiovascular disease risk among nonbinary and transgender patients. —Amy Huebschmann, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

Keshishian: Most of the band was on the Sour tour, and every member is female or nonbinary. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

nonbinary

adjective

non·​bi·​na·​ry -ˈbī-nə-rē 

-ˌner-ē

variants or non-binary

: relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female

Nonbinary people—individuals who identify as both male or female, neither male nor female, … and/or reject all gender identities—may experience unique mental health stressors due to cultural invisibility and ignorance surrounding nonbinary identities.

—Abbie E. Goldberg et al., The Counseling Psychologist

… some non-binary people who were assigned female at birth had chest surgery and/or took hormones. Others did not engage in these methods, but modified some visible markers of gender in other ways …

—Christina Richards et al., International Review of Psychiatry