hermaphrodite

[ hur-maf-ruh-dahyt ]

noun

1. Biology. an organism, such as an earthworm or plant, having both male and female reproductive organs at the same time or throughout the lifespan.
2. Older Use: Offensive.
   1. a person who has both testicular and ovarian tissue. Compare pseudohermaphrodite.
   2. any intersex person.
3. something in which two opposite qualities are combined.

adjective

1. Biology. of, relating to, or characteristic of an organism having both male and female reproductive organs. gynandrous ( def ).
2. Botany. monoclinous ( def ).
3. combining two opposite qualities.

hermaphrodite

/ hɜːˈmæfrəˌdaɪt /

noun

1. biology an individual animal or flower that has both male and female reproductive organs
2. a person having both male and female sexual characteristics and genital tissues
3. a person or thing in which two opposite forces or qualities are combined

adjective

1. having the characteristics of a hermaphrodite

hermaphrodite

/ hər-măf′rə-dīt′ /

1. An organism, such as an earthworm or flowering plant, having both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual.

Sensitive Note

The term hermaphrodite was once commonly used in medical and informal contexts to refer to people, but this use is now dated and considered offensive except when used in self-reference. Intersex has become the preferred term. It can refer to any person with reproductive organs, genitals, hormones, or chromosomal patterns that do not fall under typical definitions of male and female. The term is also sometimes used to describe something that combines two opposing qualities; this may be offensive when applied to people. intersex ( def ).

Derived Forms

• herˌmaphroˈditically, adverb
• herˌmaphroˈditic, adjective
• herˈmaphroditˌism, noun

Other Words From

• her·maph·ro·dit·ic [hur-maf-r, uh, -, dit, -ik], her·maph·ro·dit·i·cal adjective
• her·maph·ro·dit·i·cal·ly adverb
• her·maph·ro·dit·ism [hur-, maf, -r, uh, -dahy-tiz-, uh, m], her·maph·ro·dism [hur-, maf, -r, uh, -diz-, uh, m], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hermaphrodite¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hermofrodite, from Latin hermaphrodītus, from Greek hermaphródītos, originally the proper name of the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, Hermaphródītos, whose body became joined with that of the nymph Salmacis

Word History and Origins

Origin of hermaphrodite¹

C15: from Latin hermaphrodītus, from Greek, after Hermaphroditus

Example Sentences

Anatomically female but capable of self-fertilizing with their own supply of sperm, hermaphrodites remain emphatically uninterested in mating -- until their sperm supply runs dry.

From Science Daily

This is because papayas can produce either male flowers, female flowers or hermaphrodite flowers that have characteristics of both.

From Los Angeles Times

Almost all sea squirts are hermaphrodites, as they produce both male and female germ cells.

From Science Daily

The term "hermaphrodite" is a term in the animal kingdom that you learn about when you're in biology class.

From Salon

This dialogue verges on the mawkish: “What does hermaphrodite mean?”

From New York Times