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

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

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

Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi seems to produce its own eggs and sperm, making it a “self-fertilizing hermaphrodite.”

From Popular-Science

The implication is that using forks was—like being a hermaphrodite—a kind of sexual abnormality.

From The Daily Beast

So embroiled in fact, that his sex was impossible to determine; he looked like a little hermaphrodite.

From The Daily Beast

Hermaphrodite mollusks, with a marvellously complicated sexual apparatus, ought also to be studied separately.

From Project Gutenberg

The amphioxus, the bridge between invertebrates and vertebrates, is not hermaphrodite.

From Project Gutenberg

Each worm is bisexual or hermaphrodite, on which account they multiply with great rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg

And therefore natural philosophers say, that an hermaphrodite is impotent in the privy parts of a man, as appears by experience.

From Project Gutenberg

They are in a hermaphrodite condition, out of which they develop into either males or females.

From Project Gutenberg