gender
English meaning: Gender
Definition
Gender refers to the state of being male, female, or another category, and its social roles.
Example
“The survey asked about age, gender, and income to better understand the needs of local residents.”
Another example: “The survey asked respondents to state their age and gender.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral noun for the categories of male, female, and others, and the social roles tied to them; in careful modern usage 'gender' (social/identity) is distinguished from 'sex' (biological). Also a grammatical category in many languages. Used in both US and UK English.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'gendre', from Latin 'genus' (kind, sort, race).
Related Words
- dysphoria
- mainstreaming
- reassignment
- gendered
- residing
- equality
- makeup
- neuter
- intersex
- masculine
- sexuality
- inequality
Common Collocations
- gender equality
- gender identity
- gender gap
- gender roles
- gender-neutral
- based on gender
Word Forms
gender (n); genders (pl); gendered (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B