epicene: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal, Literary, Technical (Linguistics)
Quick answer
What does “epicene” mean?
Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, both male and female genders, or having characteristics not associated with either gender.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, both male and female genders, or having characteristics not associated with either gender.
In linguistics, a noun or pronoun that denotes a single referent without indicating gender, or that refers to either gender; more generally, describing something that is indeterminate, neutral, or lacking distinctive character.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. The word is equally rare in both varieties. The primary contextual difference is that its technical linguistic use (for gender-neutral nouns) is more likely in academic publications globally.
Connotations
In both varieties, when used outside of technical contexts to describe a person's appearance or manner, it can be perceived as archaic, literary, and potentially offensive.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language in both the UK and US. It is primarily encountered in literary criticism, gender studies, or formal linguistics.
Grammar
How to Use “epicene” in a Sentence
The noun 'student' is treated as epicene in this grammar.The style was criticized for its epicene blandness.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “epicene” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The actor's epicene portrayal challenged traditional gender roles.
- Old English had several epicene nouns like 'cild' (child).
American English
- Critics described the fashion line's aesthetic as deliberately epicene.
- The pronoun 'they' is increasingly accepted as a singular, epicene option.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, literary criticism, and gender/queer studies to discuss grammatical gender or androgynous characterization.
Everyday
Extremely rare; if used, likely to be misunderstood or perceived as pretentious or insulting.
Technical
Specific term in grammar for nouns/pronouns that are not marked for gender (e.g., 'they' as a singular pronoun).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “epicene”
- Misspelling as 'epicene' with a double 'c' (epiccene).
- Using it as a synonym for 'effeminate' (which applies only to males), whereas 'epicene' is gender-neutral.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. In technical linguistics, it is a neutral descriptor. When applied to people or artistic style, it can be pejorative, suggesting a lack of distinct character or strength, though in gender theory it may be used positively to denote freedom from binary categories.
'Androgynous' typically describes a physical appearance or style that blends male and female characteristics. 'Epicene' is broader and can mean the same, but also encompasses the idea of having no gender characteristics, and has a specific linguistic meaning for gender-neutral words.
Yes, though it's rare. As a noun, it can refer to an epicene person or, more commonly in linguistics, an epicene word (e.g., 'The word 'person' is an epicene').
Yes, in linguistic terminology, the singular use of 'they' to refer to a person of unspecified or non-binary gender is a prime example of an epicene pronoun.
Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, both male and female genders, or having characteristics not associated with either gender.
Epicene is usually formal, literary, technical (linguistics) in register.
Epicene: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɛpɪsiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɛpəˌsiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PIN (epi-cene) that gives you access to both the MEN's and WOMEN's locker rooms because it is gender-NEUTRAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENDER IS A BINARY SPECTRUM → EPICENE IS THE MIDPOINT OR ABSENCE ON THAT SPECTRUM.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'epicene' most appropriately and neutrally used?