Gender-neutral Definition & Meaning

Definition

Examples

gender-neutral American [jen-der-noo-truhl, -nyoo-] / ˈdʒɛn dərˈnu trəl, -ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. noting or relating to a word or phrase that does not refer to one gender only.

   Firefighter and flight attendant are gender-neutral terms.

2. using words wherever appropriate that are free of reference to gender.

   gender-neutral language.

3. relating to, intended for, or common to any gender.

   a nursery decorated with gender-neutral colors.

4. noting or relating to a person of neutral gender, neither male nor female.

   raising a gender-neutral child to avoid gender stereotypes.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“My daughter would pick a Barbie movie and my son would pick Ninja Turtles and the other would have no interest in watching it,” said Redeker, of Vienna, Va. “We began choosing more gender-neutral movies like ‘Inside Out’ that everyone enjoys.”

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the distinct features of the gym is its gender-neutral changing room, which Rypinski says is the first of its kind in the country.

From Los Angeles Times

That it’s a gender-neutral pronoun, because they identify as gender-fluid.

From Literature

By then Press, 37, had made the transition from soccer star to businesswoman and media personality with Re-Inc, a gender-neutral community-driven fashion brand, and the Re-Cap Show, an award-winning soccer podcast, both of which she runs with wife and former teammate Tobin Heath.

From Los Angeles Times

Gender-neutral bathrooms: All public schools in California will be required to provide at least one all-gender bathroom starting July 1.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.