gender identity

noun

: a person's internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male nor female
Facebook provides more than 50 options beyond "male" and "female" for users to describe their gender identity, from "gender questioning" and "neither" to "androgynous."The Chicago Tribune

Examples of gender identity 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.
In Texas and across the country, the group has also been swept into heated battles over gender identity in the classroom. Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026 Both states have policies saying inmates should be housed in a facility consistent with their gender identity. ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026 One, Deputy Lisa Phillips, had her gender identity called into question in Foreman’s videos and social media posts. Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 Colorado voters will decide whether transgender children can play sports with the gender that matches their gender identity or whether they'll be forced to play with other children of the same gender they were assigned at birth. Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gender identity

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gender identity was in 1964

Cite this Entry

“Gender identity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender%20identity. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

gender identity

noun
: a person's internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male nor female

Medical Definition

gender identity

noun
: a person's internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male or female
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