Definition

Noun: 1. The condition of having both male and female reproductive organs or characteristics: A biological state, often congenital, where an organism possesses both ovarian and testicular tissue, or where the external genitalia are ambiguous, not clearly male or female. 2. The state of exhibiting physical or biological traits of both sexes: Used in biology and medicine to describe individuals with both male and female sexual characteristics.

Usage and Examples

• In biology, hermaphroditism is observed in many plant species and some animal species like earthworms.
• The medical team discussed the complexities of diagnosing and managing cases of congenital hermaphroditism.
• The textbook chapter explained the difference between sequential and simultaneous hermaphroditism in marine life.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• In modern medical and biological contexts, the terms intersex or Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) are often preferred, as "hermaphroditism" can be considered outdated or imprecise for human conditions. The term remains standard in zoology and botany for describing non-human species.
• True hermaphroditism is a specific medical term for the rare condition where both ovarian and testicular tissue are present.

Variants and Related Words

• Hermaphrodite (noun): An organism, especially a human, having both male and female reproductive organs or characteristics. (Note: This term for people is now often considered offensive; "intersex person" is preferred.)
• Hermaphroditic (adjective): Of, relating to, or characteristic of a hermaphrodite or hermaphroditism.
  • The flower has a hermaphroditic structure.

Synonyms

• Intersex condition
• Androgyny (though this more commonly refers to a blend of masculine and feminine or traits, not necessarily biological sex characteristics)
• Gynandromorphism (a specific condition in organisms where male and female characteristics are distributed in a mosaic pattern)

Related Terms and Concepts

• Intersex: An umbrella term for people born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit typical definitions of male or female. This is the contemporary and respectful term for human conditions.
• Disorder of Sex Development (DSD): A medical classification for congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical.
• Ambiguous genitalia: A physical finding where the external sex organs are not clearly male or female, which can be one manifestation of conditions under the hermaphroditism/intersex spectrum.

Noun

1. showing characteristics of both sexes
2. congenital condition in which external genitalia and internal sex organs have both male and female characteristics