androgyny

plural androgynies · alternative androgony

1. uncountableusuallyHermaphroditism.
2. uncountableusuallyThe state of having traits of both male and female genders.First known use the mid 19th century

   Now androgyny has come to mean the adoption of social behavior that is not strictly masculine or feminine according to the old role definitions. An attempt to escape from gender-identified role-playing, androgyny does not necessarily determine sexual behavior.

   1977, Charles Silverstein, Edmund White, The Joy of Gay Sex, New York: Crown Publishers, →ISBN, page 33

3. uncountableusuallyThe state of appearing to be neither feminine nor masculine.

   ‘No, I like short hair on girls. I like that androgyny thing. Seriously.’

   2000, Zadie Smith, White Teeth, London: Penguin Books, published 2001, →ISBN, page 257

   1 more example

   The plot isn't the film's greatest asset, nor are its insights into Margaret, Larry and the brave new world of affectless androgyny that they inhabit.

   1983 July 22, Janet Maslin, “‘Liquid Sky,’ High Fashion and a U.F.O.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

4. uncountableusuallyThe state or ability, of a connector or docking port, to connect with either male (plug) or female (socket) or other neutral connectors or ports.

   […] it is obvious that the idea of androgyny of docking/berthing interfaces […]

   2003, Wigbert Fehse, Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 335