Definition

1. Noun:
   • An individual having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; a person for whom an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made at birth. This term historically refers to an intersex person, someone born with biological sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.
   • A person who does not fit neatly into conventional gender roles; someone with a gender expression that combines or blurs masculine and feminine traits. In broader, often non-medical contexts, it can describe androgyny in appearance, identity, or behavior.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Medical/Intersex context):
  • The infant was identified as an androgyne, presenting with both ovarian and testicular tissue.
  • Historically, androgynes were often subjected to surgeries without their consent.
• Noun (Gender expression/identity context):
  • The fashion model's style is deliberately that of an androgyne, blending tailored suits with delicate jewelry.
  • They identify as an androgyne, feeling their true self exists outside the male/female binary.

Advanced Usage

• "Social androgyne": A person whose social roles, behaviors, or psychological attributes incorporate both stereotypically masculine and feminine qualities.
  • In the study, participants who scored as social androgynes showed greater adaptability.
• "Cultural androgyne": A figure or archetype in mythology or art that embodies both male and female principles.
  • The deity was portrayed as a cultural androgyne, symbolizing the unity of opposites.

Variants and Related Words

• Androgynous (adj): Having the characteristics or nature of both male and female; neither specifically masculine nor feminine.
  • Their androgynous appearance makes it hard for people to guess their gender.
• Androgyny (n): The quality or state of being neither distinctly masculine nor feminine; the combination of male and female characteristics.
  • The artist's work explores themes of androgyny and identity.

Synonyms

• Intersex person (preferred modern term for the medical definition).
• Hermaphrodite (an outdated and often considered offensive or inaccurate term for humans; more appropriate in zoology for certain organisms).
• Epicene (literary, describing lack of gender distinction, often in style or appearance).

Related Phrases

• Gender non-conforming: A broader term for people whose gender expression differs from societal expectations.
• Ambiguous genitalia: A medical description sometimes associated with the condition of being an androgyne at birth.

Related Idioms

Note: There are no common idioms specifically using the word "androgyne." The concept is more often discussed directly in academic, medical, or social contexts.

Noun

1. one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made