androgynous

adjective

an·drog·y·nous an-ˈdrä-jə-nəs

Synonyms of androgynous next

: having the characteristics or nature of both male and female

androgynous heroines

: neither specifically feminine nor masculine

the androgynous pronoun them

: suitable to or for either sex

androgynous clothing

: having traditional male and female roles obscured or reversed

an androgynous marriage

androgynously adverb

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 Suit pants may be swapped out for a pleated skirt, regardless of one’s gender; Browne, a proponent of androgynous dressing, has been putting men in skirts for more than a decade. —

Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 Largely with an androgynous bent, each piece is meant to be worn comfortably, Yang says. —

Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023 As the '80s drew to a close, Madonna – fresh from filing for divorce from Sean Penn – ditched her feminine style and debuted a bold, androgynous look. —

Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2023 In it, artists like Roxanne Shanté, MC Lyte, Yvette Money, Sparky D, Sweet Dee, MC Peaches, Finesse, and Ms. Melody are showcased leaning into the androgynous streetwear look. —

Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Aug. 2023 Not only did Gibson face prejudice as a Black woman, but her androgynous appearance and apparently fluid sexuality set her apart in what had been viewed as a ladylike game, as did her youth as a street brawler. —

Clea Simon, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2023 Many of the symptoms the post-liberals loudly lament — drag queen story hour, androgynous youths announcing their pronouns at parties — are evidence that many communities are organizing around particular ideals. —

Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 28 July 2023 Sharp cheekbones, Pan-like movements that were more fey than androgynous. —

Elizabeth Winder, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2023 For young women finding new opportunities in corporate spaces, exaggerated proportions on a collar or shoulder allowed for a more androgynous presentation of the suit. —

Wendy S. Walters, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'androgynous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of androgynous was in 1651

See more words from the same year