gender dysphoria

noun

: a distressed state arising from conflict between a person's gender identity and the sex the person was identified as having at birth
I am a 24-year-old transgender woman, and I know gender dysphoria very well. My distress over my physical body, my feeling that it doesn't always match up with my gender identity, often lurks in some far corner of my mind. It doesn't matter how well I'm dressed, how much I brush my hair, how many compliments I receive, or how well my hormone therapy treatment is working. When gender dysphoria hits, it packs a punch.Serena Sonoma
also : a condition marked by such distress
The treatment for gender dysphoria is often multi-disciplinary, combining the efforts of several behavioral health and medical professionals. … Non-operative treatment focuses on implementing psychosocial therapy and/or medical management with hormone replacement therapy. Operative treatments range from small cosmetic procedures to much larger genital transformation surgeries. Danyon Anderson et al.
compare gender euphoria

Examples of gender dysphoria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Their dilemmas evoke our disregard of the vacancy in Antifa anarchists and our encouragement of gender dysphoria. Armond White, National Review, 25 Sep. 2024 Related article Is gender dysphoria a mental disorder? Kristen Rogers, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024 Although some countries are more restrictive than others, Norway, Sweden, France, and the U.K. are among those allowing medical treatment for gender dysphoria. Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024 More than 20 states restrict treatments like puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy or surgeries for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gender dysphoria 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gender dysphoria was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near gender dysphoria

Cite this Entry

“Gender dysphoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender%20dysphoria. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

gender dysphoria

noun
: a distressed state arising from conflict between a person's gender identity and the sex the person was identified as having at birth
Nonbinary people may or may not use medical approaches to align their identities and physical bodies, and, like transgender people, some nonbinary people experience gender dysphoria while others do not.Elizabeth Kukura, Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics
also : a condition marked by such distress
Scientists have no conclusive explanation for what causes some people to feel dissonance between their gender identity and aspects of their anatomy. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association updated its manual, replacing the term "gender identity disorder," with one that is less stigmatizing, "gender dysphoria." The New York Times
compare gender euphoria
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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