androgyny

noun

an·​drog·​y·​ny an-ˈdrä-jə-nē How to pronounce androgyny (audio)
: the quality or state of being neither specifically feminine or masculine : the combination of feminine and masculine characteristics : the quality or state of being androgynous
For this brand, wearing unisex clothing perpetuates androgyny that pervades runways and our own culture.Dylan Leavitt
And though he was singing to women, he reveled in androgyny, appearing onstage in high heels, frilly shirts and revealing chaps.Jack Riedy
… I felt like someone else was seeing what I had seen in myself: that my inner sense of androgyny was reflected in ways I carried myself like a man.Delacey Skinner
The natural androgyny of old age has acquired no appeal. The tendency of male and female bodies to resemble each other in late maturity is still conventionally ridiculous and deplorable …Anne Hollander

Examples of androgyny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her work, which also focused on ecological issues and androgyny, inspired the theme of the 2022 Venice Biennale whose virtually all female line-up included many influenced by her practice. Cath Pound, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024 The model paired her Saint Laurent bomber with a form-fitting nude turtleneck and slim-legged black trousers, while Sink leaned into the androgyny of oversized fashion, wearing a pair of baggy blue jeans and a beanie. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023 Hers was a femininity served with a splash of androgyny that upstaged all the other (usually American) celebrities trying so hard to look more grand. Ariel Schuyler Ehrlich, Town & Country, 20 July 2023 His designs break free from conventional notions, embracing androgyny and allowing individuals to express their true selves without limitations. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 21 June 2023 The fold at the waist adds a touch of androgyny. Town & Country, 9 Mar. 2023 In addition to nearly 100 acting credits, including five projects that debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Tilda Swinton is well known for her mysteriousness, emanating from the eccentricities of her characters and the androgyny of her personal style. Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 31 Dec. 2021 Her outfit videos show a sophisticated side of fashion, with a hint of androgyny that is both refreshing and inspiring. Kristen Bateman, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Jan. 2022 The music, the words, the Warhol, the attitude, the androgyny, the fragility, the ferocity. Mark Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of androgyny was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near androgyny

Cite this Entry

“Androgyny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgyny. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

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