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

The principal drama within this new arrangement concerns how Sparrow and Stuart should tell their nonbinary kid, J.R., a spoiled student activist who is threatening to drop out of college. —Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 16 June 2025

Aimed at women and nonbinary cannabis users, the publication brings together stunning photography, essays, and design with thoughtful cannabis culture. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

Also cited in the report — for the first time in five years, gender parity was reached among LGBTQ characters, with 50 percent of LGBTQ characters being women, 48 percent men, and 2 percent nonbinary characters. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 11 June 2025

The luncheon took place at The Greenwich Hotel Courtyard and celebrated emerging filmmakers in Chanel and TriBeCa’s Through Her Lens program, which supports women and nonbinary directors. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2025

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