nonbinary

adjective

non·​bi·​na·​ry ˌnän-ˈbī-nə-rē 

-ˌner-ē, 

-ˌne-rē

: not binary: such as

a

: not restricted to two things or parts

nonbinary voting

b

: of, relating to, or being a system of numbers that does not use 2 as its base

nonbinary math

c

or non-binary : relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female

non-binary people

… an effort to create more equality for nonbinary and transgender students across campus.

—Phoebe Roe

… many people with nonbinary genders use "they" and "their" pronouns …

—Lucy Brisbane

… the normalization of sharing pronouns emphasizes the fact that everyone has preferred pronouns, not just trans and non-binary folks.

—Christina M. Xiao

Examples of nonbinary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Layshia Clarendon, the league’s first openly trans and nonbinary player, retired in 2024 after 12 seasons. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Layshia Clarendon, who played in the WNBA from 2013 to 2024, was the league’s first nonbinary player but was not a trans woman, as she was assigned female at birth. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026

And though no trans women have played in the WNBA, the league has already welcomed Layshia Clarendon, who became the first out trans and nonbinary person in the WNBA in 2020. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

The United Methodist Church’s Oregon-Idaho Conference will no longer hold its annual gathering in Idaho next year over safety concerns stemming in part from Idaho laws targeting transgender and nonbinary people. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonbinary

• refinery
• binary
• finery
• winery

Medical Definition

nonbinary

adjective

non·​bi·​na·​ry -ˈbī-nə-rē 

-ˌner-ē

variants or non-binary

: relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female

Nonbinary people—individuals who identify as both male or female, neither male nor female, … and/or reject all gender identities—may experience unique mental health stressors due to cultural invisibility and ignorance surrounding nonbinary identities.

—Abbie E. Goldberg et al., The Counseling Psychologist

… some non-binary people who were assigned female at birth had chest surgery and/or took hormones. Others did not engage in these methods, but modified some visible markers of gender in other ways …

—Christina Richards et al., International Review of Psychiatry