Definition of gender
1a : a subclass within a grammatical class (such as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (such as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical formsb : membership of a word or a grammatical form in such a subclassc : an inflectional form (see inflection 3a) showing membership in such a subclass
2a : sex the feminine genderb : the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex
Explore M-W
Examples of gender in a Sentence
Please state your name, birth date, and gender.
The adjective and noun must agree in number and gender.
Some languages do not use genders.
Origin and Etymology of gender
Middle English gendre, from Anglo-French genre, gendre, from Latin gener-, genus birth, race, kind, gender — more at kin
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Psychology Terms
Origin and Etymology of gender
Middle English gendren, from Anglo-French gendrer, from Latin generare — more at generate
First Known Use: 14th century
GENDER Defined for Kids
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about gender
-
See words that rhyme with gender Spanish Central: Translation of gender Nglish: Translation of gender for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gender for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gender
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gender? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!