gender expression

noun

: the physical and behavioral manifestations of one's gender identity

People vary greatly in the extent to which they hold and convey gendered thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Gender expression refers to the way people convey their gender through mannerisms, behaviors, or expressions.

—Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology

For most people, … gender expression occurs so naturally it's unnoticeable. Except when gender expression doesn't match traditional notions of the gender assigned at birth.

—Will Dean

Examples of gender expression in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to data cited in the original ruling, at least 598 of the state’s 1,000 school systems have policies restricting what parents can be told about their child’s gender expression at school — if the child requests confidentiality. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026

The order blocks for now a state law that bans automatic parental notification requirements if students change their pronouns or gender expression at school. —CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

The order blocks for now a state law that bans automatic parental notification requirements if students change their pronouns or gender expression at school. —ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026

Just 8% of school district have policy protections on the books for nondiscrimination and equal education opportunities for gender expression. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gender expression

• overexpression
• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Medical Definition

gender expression

noun

: the physical and behavioral manifestations of one's gender identity

… some transgender people experience gender dysphoria, defined as psychological distress associated with a sense of incongruence between their gender identity and gender expression and/or body and physical appearance.

—Jae M. Sevelius et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Women in couples where both partners have more feminine gender expressions may be more likely to be perceived as sisters or friends by onlookers, making them less likely to be targets of homophobia, but simultaneously making it more likely that their romantic relationship will be dismissed.

—Lauren Matheson et al., The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality