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
• unisexual
• ambisexual

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

It was soon followed by a womenswear collection, which saw the brand debuting an androgynous look. —Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

The 30-second ad did not feature a car, but instead had models dressed in bright, androgynous attire. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

At least Judge, Daniels, and Paterson left the character’s distinctively androgynous voice (provided by Pamela Adlon in both incarnations of a show that has weathered the untimely deaths of too many original voice actors) intact. —Judy Berman, Time, 4 Aug. 2025

More beauty bits include a Louis Vuitton perfume gifted to her for the Met; an androgynous, anytime of the day scent. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 July 2025

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

Rhymes for androgynous

• autogenous
• homogenous
• nitrogenous
• hematogenous
• myelogenous

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