Androgynism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condition where an individual embodies traits associated with both sexes in their appearance and behavior
2. A state characterized by the combination of masculine and feminine attributes in physical form and mannerisms
3. An identity reflecting the blending of gender characteristics, manifesting both male and female qualities in presentation and actions

Etymology: Androgynism is a plain formation: the noun "androgyne" with the suffix "-ism" attached. The source of the base word matters more than the suffix. "Androgyne" was built in Greek from "anēr" (man, in the sense of male) and "gynē" (woman), so the word literally joins the two sexes into one body. The Greek-derived "-ismos" suffix, which turns a noun into a name for a condition, system or doctrine, was added to that base in English. The Greek roots of "androgyne" are old, but the English word itself is a later coinage, and the suffix is what gives "androgynism" its abstract sense. Because "-ism" names a state or quality rather than a person, the noun describes the condition of being androgynous rather than a person who embodies it.

Synonyms: hermaphroditism, intersexuality, bisexuality, gender fluidity, gender ambiguity

Antonyms: femininity, masculinity, gender binary, manliness, womanliness