What does androgynously mean?
Androgynously is the adverb form of androgynous, meaning “in a way that combines or blurs characteristics conventionally associated with men and women.” It is used to describe dress, appearance, voice, movement, performance, or broader style, especially when these resist a clearly masculine or feminine presentation. For example, a performer may move androgynously, combining conventionally masculine and feminine gestures rather than signaling one gender alone. The word is relatively uncommon and often appears in formal, literary, or critical contexts. Its usefulness lies in allowing a writer to describe a deliberately blended or gender-ambiguous mode of presentation without claiming that a person has a fixed identity. Because it focuses on manner rather than a person's inherent qualities, it can apply to artistic choices, styling, speech, and behavior. The term should be used with care: describing someone or something as androgynous does not itself reveal or determine anyone's gender identity.
adverbIn a manner that combines or blurs characteristics conventionally associated with men and women; in an androgynous way.
- In a manner characterized by the combination or blurring of characteristics conventionally associated with men and women.
"She moved androgynously across the stage, combining conventionally masculine and feminine gestures with equal confidence."
"The actor dressed androgynously, using a combination of sharply tailored pieces and traditionally feminine accessories."
"The sculpture presents the human form androgynously, deliberately resisting a clear distinction between masculine and feminine anatomy."
The suffix -ly turns androgynous into a telling adverb: not merely blending gender, but presenting, moving, or speaking in a deliberately gender-ambiguous way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does androgynously come from?
Androgynously was formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to androgynous. The adjective androgynous comes through androgyne, from Greek roots meaning “man” and “woman.” English androgyne, androgyny, and androgynous belong to the same lexical family and preserve that combined Greek origin.
How androgynously is actually used
Relatively uncommon and more typical of formal, literary, or critical writing. It may describe appearance, dress, voice, movement, behavior, performance, or artistic style without necessarily indicating a person's gender identity.
Easily confused with androgynously
Androgynous is the adjective describing someone or something that combines or blurs characteristics conventionally associated with men and women, whereas androgynously is the adverb describing the manner in which this occurs.