What does genderless mean?
Genderless is an adjective meaning that something has no gender or is not associated with a particular gender. It is especially common in discussions of language: some languages have genderless nouns, and genderless names or forms of address avoid assigning a gender. The word is also used for people whose identity is not gendered, fictional characters without a specified gender, and products or designs intended for anyone. Genderless should not be confused with gender-neutral. A genderless thing is presented as having no gender at all, while a gender-neutral practice simply avoids marking one gender as the default or as more appropriate. The term is used in both British and American English and can occur in formal, political, educational, commercial, and everyday contexts. Its central distinction is between an absence of gender and a deliberate refusal to make gender relevant.
adjectiveHaving no gender; not associated with, belonging to, or restricted to a particular gender. It is especially used to describe language, names, identities, characters, and designs.
- Having no gender or gender identity.
- Not associated with or restricted to a particular gender.
"The company adopted a genderless design for its new range of products."
"Some languages include genderless nouns and use they for people whose gender is unknown or irrelevant."
"The novel presents the character as genderless and allows the reader to focus on the character's actions."
A genderless name belongs to no gender, but in daily use it can belong to everyone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does genderless come from?
Genderless is an English compound formed from gender and the suffix -less, meaning “without.” The word gender entered Middle English from Old French genre, ultimately from Latin genus, meaning “kind” or “type,” and its modern reference to gender developed from that earlier sense. The Latin relatives general, generic, and genus belong to the same broader etymological family.
Related word forms
How genderless is actually used
Common in discussions of language, identity, design, and institutions. In everyday use, it may sound more absolute than gender-neutral, which often means merely avoiding a gender distinction.
Easily confused with genderless
Genderless describes something that has no gender, whereas gender-neutral describes language or practice that avoids assigning or privileging a particular gender.
Genderless refers to gender or gender identity, while sexless refers to the absence of sexual characteristics or sexual distinctions.