Meanings
plural gentlethems
- neologismPolite term of address for a non-binary person.
“My queen, ladies, gentlemen, and gentlethems,” Dallas said.
2019, Claire Kann, If It Makes You Happy, Square Fish, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, →ISBN5 more examples
“We’re conducting biowarfare 101 today, boys and girls and gentlethem.”
2018, Ada Harper, A Treason of Truths, Carina Press, Harlequin, →ISBNShopping for jeans can be a terribly gendered experience. I hear you, fellow gremlins and gentlethems, asking why should I wear jeans ever again?
2021 March 1, Mel Compo, “How to Shop for Jeans as a Non-Binary Person”, in Vice, archived from the original on 01 Mar 2021So both she/her and he/him have been used in relation to me. Though, I have to admit that my absolute favourites have been ‘m'theydy’ and ‘gentlethem’ from a couple of cheeky supporters. Even if they didn't realise just how right they were, their general joking ease with non-binary names was one that had me thoroughly entertained and pleased.
2021 June 10, Laura Kate Dale, “The Gender of Language: Finding a Pronoun for My Identity”, in Gender Euphoria: Stories of joy from trans, non-binary and intersex writers, Unbound Publishing, →ISBNin a TV show where people dress up as drag queens contestants are asked to name their inner saboteur / ladies & gentlethem, please welcome to the stage Sid
2022, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, “my body is a window”, in David Stavanger, Radhiah Chowdhury, Mohammad Awad, editors, Admissions: Voices within Mental Health, Upswell Publishing, →ISBNGaydies and gentlethems! The MerseyPride Icon Award goes to . . . Cherry Brandy!
2022, Jonathan Larkin, Cherry Jezebel, Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 4
Origin
From gentle + them, after gentleman.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
gentlethem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentlethem
“gentlethem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentlethem. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gentlethem,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentlethem.
Source: gentlethem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.