Meanings
comparative more gender-neutral · superlative most gender-neutral · alternative genderneutral · alternative gender neutral
- Not having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender.
- Used by or intended for people of any gender; not restricted to (only one) gender; available to all genders.
The women's sleeping quarters are on the left side of the dormitory, the men's are on the right; gender-neutral restrooms are located in the middle.
Synonyms: gender-inclusive, genderless, gendy nooch, non-gendered, ungendered, unisex · Antonyms: gender-specific
- Of words, phrasing, etc.: not indicating or referring to (only one) gender.
Many modern laws use gender-neutral constructions like "they" in place of the old, supposedly unmarked "he".
4 more examples
Gender-neutral pronouns like "ey" and "ze" are used by many genderqueer, intersex, and neutrois individuals.
“[…] Tes name was Iptim Op’tarmk and te was nineteen years old.[…]” / Ramant’s brain had to switch gears. Of course he knew that the Vonarians used a gender-neutral pronoun set when referring to themselves, and he’d even practiced it, but when it rolled off Boë’s sweet and mellow tongue it sounded like an alien language.
1995 November, Kandis Elliot, “The Androgyne Murders”, in Science Fiction Age, volume 4, number 1, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 50–51Alongside its vital role of maintaining and reviewing each of the rail industry's 294 technical and safety standards, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is about to turn its attention to how to make the term 'pilotman' gender-neutral.
2022 April 20, “Network News: RSSB to explore new terms to replace 'pilotman'”, in RAIL, number 955, page 16Berlin’s recently appointed conservative mayor has said he will refuse to use gender-neutral language in office, insisting he wanted to use a language “that everyone understands”.
2023 May 22, Kate Connolly, “Bürger*innen? Backlash as Berlin mayor refuses to use gender-neutral language”, in The Guardian, →ISSNSynonyms: gender-inclusive, genderless, gendy nooch, non-gendered, ungendered, unisex · Antonyms: gender-specific
- grammarIn particular, in languages where words are assigned to one grammatical gender or another: lacking such an assignment.
Synonyms: gender-inclusive, genderless, gendy nooch, non-gendered, ungendered, unisex, epicene · Antonyms: gender-specific
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveUsed by or intended for people of any gender; not restricted to (only one) gender; available to all genders.
adjectiveOf words, phrasing, etc.: not indicating or referring to (only one) gender.
adjectiveIn particular, in languages where words are assigned to one grammatical gender or another: lacking such an assignment.
Origin
Translations
Danish kønsneutral
- kønsneutralnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Dutch geslachtsloos, genderneutraal
- geslachtsloosgrammar: lacking gender assignment
- genderneutraalnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Esperanto genroneŭtrala
- genroneŭtralanot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Finnish suvuton, sukupuolineutraali
- suvutongrammar: lacking gender assignment
- sukupuolineutraalinot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
French épicène, unigenre
- épicènegrammar: lacking gender assignment
- unigenrenot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
German geschlechtslos, geschlechtsneutral
- geschlechtslosgrammar: lacking gender assignment
- geschlechtsneutralnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
- unisexnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Korean 성중립적
- 성중립적 (seongjunglibjeog)not having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Latin agenus, insexus
- agenusgrammar: lacking gender assignment
- insexusgrammar: lacking gender assignment
Norwegian Bokmål kjønnsnøytral
- kjønnsnøytralnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Russian неродово́й, ге́ндерно-нейтра́льный
- неродово́й (nerodovój)grammar: lacking gender assignment
- ге́ндерно-нейтра́льный (géndɛrno-nejtrálʹnyj)not having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Swedish könsneutral
- könsneutralnot having, indicating, or being restricted on the basis of, gender
Cite this entry
gender-neutral. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gender-neutral
“gender-neutral.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gender-neutral. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gender-neutral,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gender-neutral.
Source: gender-neutral on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.