gender: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, legal, and increasingly common in everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “gender” mean?
The state of being male or female, typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being male or female, typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.
A range of identities and social roles associated with being male, female, non-binary, etc., which may be distinct from biological sex. Also used grammatically to classify nouns and pronouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. UK usage may be slightly more influenced by grammatical 'gender' in language learning contexts (e.g., French, German).
Connotations
In both, highly salient in social, political, and academic discourse. US usage may be more frequently encountered in corporate diversity contexts.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both variants due to contemporary social discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “gender” in a Sentence
Noun + of + gender (the concept of gender)Adjective + gender (fluid gender)Gender + noun (gender norms)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gender” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy aims to gender mainstream all new legislation.
- They decided not to gender the baby's wardrobe.
American English
- The form was criticized for gendering the title options.
- Societies often gender certain behaviors from a young age.
adjective
British English
- The gender-neutral toilets are on the ground floor.
- They attended a gender-awareness workshop.
American English
- Gender-affirming care is vital for some patients.
- The company reviewed its gender-pay gap.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in diversity reports, HR policies, and inclusion training.
Academic
Central term in sociology, psychology, linguistics, and gender studies.
Everyday
Discussing identity, relationships, and social issues.
Technical
In linguistics for noun classes; in medicine/psychology for identity development.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gender”
- Using 'gender' as a direct synonym for biological 'sex' without nuance.
- Incorrectly using 'genders' for multiple individuals of different genders ('people of different genders' is preferred).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sex' typically refers to biological characteristics (chromosomes, anatomy), while 'gender' refers to the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of being male, female, or another identity.
Yes, though less common. It means to apply or attribute gender to something (e.g., 'to gender a toy').
Yes. You can refer to 'a gender', 'many genders', 'all genders' within discussions of identity.
Increased awareness and discourse around social equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and the understanding that identity is separate from biological sex have made it a key sociological and political term.
The state of being male or female, typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.
Gender is usually formal, academic, legal, and increasingly common in everyday contexts. in register.
Gender: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdʒendə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʒendər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Gender-bending”
- “The opposite gender”
- “A war of the genders”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'GENE'der – originally related to 'genus' meaning 'kind' or 'type'. It's about the 'kind' of person one is socially/culturally.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENDER IS A SPECTRUM / GENDER IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
Practice
Quiz
In modern academic usage, 'gender' primarily refers to: