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

Otherwise, this recommendation applies to everyone who was assigned female at birth, including transgender men and nonbinary people. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 13 Dec. 2024

Google ‘woke’ Christmas ad sparks outrage: Rising reacts Niall Stanage and Amber Duke weigh in on backlash Google is getting for using a nonbinary influencer in Christmas ad. —The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024

For many women, transgender men and nonbinary individuals, the option to self-collect samples could alleviate discomfort associated with traditional methods involving a speculum. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Their nonprofit provides girls, women, and nonbinary youth with free period products, education, and mentorship. —Gabriel Kinder and Allie Torgan, CNN, 8 Dec. 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