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

The androgynous silhouettes and subversive tailoring suggest Freund’s grit, curiosity, and fearlessness. —Ian Malone, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2024

So much of your women’s line is fairly androgynous—how did that translate to designing for menswear? —Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2024

Can’t say enough about that final look, and the androgynous Little Boy Blue is insane too. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2024

Gaultier is also credited with many of the androgynous and camp looks for the tour that became definitive of both his aesthetic as a designer and Madonna’s style of that era. —Wwd Staff, WWD, 16 Aug. 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