cis male: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-mediumFormal, academic, LGBTQ+ community
Quick answer
What does “cis male” mean?
A person whose gender identity aligns with the male sex they were assigned at birth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person whose gender identity aligns with the male sex they were assigned at birth.
A term used in gender studies and LGBTQ+ contexts to describe men who are not transgender, often to distinguish them from trans men and to acknowledge that being cisgender is a specific experience rather than a universal default.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is driven more by context (academic, activist, medical) than by regional variety.
Connotations
Neutral to positive in inclusive contexts; may be perceived as overly technical or politically charged in general conversation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic and online discourse, but the term is established in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “cis male” in a Sentence
[be] a cis male[identify as] a cis male[describe someone as] a cis maleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cis male” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He gave a talk on cis male allyship.
- The survey included a cis male control group.
American English
- The panel discussed cis male privilege.
- She wrote about her cis male colleagues.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training or policies.
Academic
Common in sociology, gender studies, psychology, and medical literature.
Everyday
Low frequency, primarily in discussions about gender identity and LGBTQ+ topics.
Technical
Standard in clinical, counselling, and activist contexts related to gender identity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cis male”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cis male”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cis male”
- Using 'cis' as a noun alone for a person (e.g., 'He is a cis') – it is an adjective. Confusing 'cis' with 'straight' (which refers to sexual orientation, not gender identity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a neutral, descriptive term used in academic and inclusive contexts to accurately describe gender identity.
It comes from Latin, meaning 'on this side of,' and is used as an antonym to 'trans-,' which means 'across from' or 'on the other side of.'
Yes. 'Cis' refers to gender identity (alignment with birth-assigned sex). 'Gay' refers to sexual orientation. They are independent aspects of identity.
It is necessary in contexts where distinguishing between cisgender and transgender experiences is relevant, such as in discussions of gender diversity, healthcare, or social dynamics. In everyday contexts where gender identity is not the topic, it is often not specified.
A person whose gender identity aligns with the male sex they were assigned at birth.
Cis male is usually formal, academic, lgbtq+ community in register.
Cis male: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪs ˈmeɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪs ˈmeɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The default is not the default (conceptual idiom related to challenging cisnormativity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CIS = Comfortably In Same (gender as assigned at birth) + MALE.
Conceptual Metaphor
ALIGNMENT (gender identity aligns with sex assigned at birth).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the term 'cis male'?