What does intersex mean?
Intersex is an umbrella term describing people born with variations in sex development. These variations may involve chromosomes, gonads, hormones, reproductive anatomy, or a combination of these features, and they do not fit conventional categories of male or female. The term can be used as a noun, as in intersex person, and as an adjective, as in intersex traits or intersex children. It is distinct from terms concerning gender identity: being intersex does not, by itself, indicate whether someone identifies as a woman, a man, or another gender. Intersex people are part of the biological diversity found across humans and other species, although their experiences are shaped by medical treatment, stigma, and legal recognition. In modern usage, intersex generally replaces older labels such as hermaphrodite in human contexts, while intersex remains an important concept in biology and medicine. The word is useful because it recognizes variation that earlier binary descriptions of sex can obscure.
A person born with variations in sex development involving chromosomes, gonads, hormones, genital anatomy, or related traits.
"The documentary features interviews with intersex adults and their families."
The plural commonly used in human contexts is intersex people; intersexes is uncommon and may sound dated or clinical.
Relating to intersex people or to variations in sex development.
"The hospital has a policy for the respectful treatment of intersex infants."
It may modify people, traits, characteristics, conditions, or variations. Its use does not by itself imply anything about gender identity.
Intersex people is the usual and preferred plural in modern human contexts. Intersex persons is also used in formal or legal settings, while intersexes is uncommon and may sound dated.
"The conference brought together intersex people from several countries."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intersex come from?
The word combines Latin inter-, meaning “between,” with Latin sex, meaning “sex,” and entered English in biological writing during the 19th century. Early uses referred to organisms or characteristics intermediate between typical male and female forms. Its modern medical and social meanings developed from this biological usage, while related words such as sexual and unisex share the sex root and terms such as intermediate reflect the inter- element.
Related word forms
How intersex is actually used
In contemporary human-rights and medical contexts, intersex people or intersex children is generally preferred to older terms such as hermaphrodite. The term is broad and does not identify a particular diagnosis or imply a particular gender identity. The medical term differences or disorders of sex development is used in some clinical settings, but its terminology and framing are not accepted by everyone.
Easily confused with intersex
Intercourse refers to sexual activity, whereas intersex refers to variations in sex development or to a person with such variations.