androgynous

[ an-droj-uh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. neither clearly masculine nor clearly feminine in appearance:

   Their new clothing collection is inspired by the androgynous look of many rock stars.

2. having an ambiguous gender or having both masculine and feminine gender characteristics.
3. possessing both male and female physical sex traits.
4. Botany. having staminate and pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence.

androgynous

/ ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. botany having male and female flowers in the same inflorescence, as cuckoo pint
2. having male and female characteristics; hermaphrodite

androgynous

/ ăn-drŏj′ə-nəs /

1. Having both female and male characteristics.

Derived Forms

• anˈdrogyny, noun

Other Words From

• an·drog·y·ny noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of androgynous¹

First recorded in 1620–30; androgyne + -ous

Example Sentences

His androgynous looks were more in harmony with the direction the music industry was progressing in 2016.

From BBC

If Link is a cipher, an increasingly androgynous hero meant to be a stand-in for players the world over, Princess Zelda in “Echoes of Wisdom” feels more fully drawn.

From Los Angeles Times

Teifi, who describes androgynous Anniben as a "drag thing", said their performances were conceptual and unlike the cabaret style performances typical of drag queens.

From BBC

And this Orlando is played by the protean writer and performer Taylor Mac, who delivers the line while cutting a resplendent androgynous figure in shiny red boots and white, vaguely Elizabethan garb.

From New York Times

As a minor, Eilish tried to squelch the discourse surrounding the over-sexualization of her body by dressing in oversized, baggy and androgynous clothes.

From Salon