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 In their latest special, Gender Agenda, Gadsby features a lineup of seven comedians who identify as genderqueer — a person whose gender identity does not correspond with binary gender distinctions. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The case raises difficult questions about the weight a child’s gender identity and expression should hold in an already volatile custody battle in which the parents are bitterly divided on the issue. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Critics fear a new proposal making its way through the state legislature could ban discussions about gender identities and sexuality entirely from schools. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 His mother, Sue Benedict, has said that Nex, who used he/him and they/them pronouns, was bullied due to his gender identity. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 But prosecutors did not pursue a case centered on a victim’s gender identity until several years after the law’s enactment. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 Anti-trans rhetoric and legislation has been linked to a rise in violence against transgender people, and the FBI reporting a 33% jump in hate crimes based on gender identity. Nick Morrison, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Those who supported teaching about gender identity were more likely to teach older students in middle and high school and identify as Democrats. Sarah Mervosh, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 They had been bullied in the past due to their gender identity, according to their family. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gender identity.' 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

1964, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near gender identity

Cite this Entry

“Gender identity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender%20identity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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