Word
androgynous
Phoneticsan·drog·y·nous, stress on the second syllable
US/ænˈdɹɔdʒənəs/
UK/ændɹˈɒdʒɪnəs/
Definitions
01appearance or style
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. having a look that is not clearly male or female, or that mixes both styles.
adj. exhibiting physical or stylistic characteristics that are indeterminate or that combine elements of both sexes.
“The fashion model had a striking androgynous look that worked for both men's and women's clothing.”
“The artist's androgynous aesthetic challenged traditional gender norms, blending sharp masculine tailoring with softer feminine fabrics.”
Usage
Often used in the context of fashion, art, and gender studies.
Teaching tip
While 'unisex' usually refers to clothes or products, 'androgynous' more often describes a person's physical appearance or a specific style choice.
Synonyms
02biological
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical · Formal
adj. having both male and female physical parts.
adj. possessing the biological characteristics or reproductive organs of both sexes.
“Some ancient myths describe androgynous beings who were later split into two people.”
“In botanical terms, certain plants are considered androgynous because they possess both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same stem.”
Usage
In modern medical contexts, 'intersex' is the preferred term for humans; 'androgynous' is more common in historical or botanical contexts.
Teaching tip
Learners should be aware that using this for people in a biological sense can feel dated; it is safer to use it for style and appearance.
Synonyms
03mechanical connectors
C2 · Proficiency Computing Technical
adj. describing a part that can connect to another part exactly like itself.
adj. referring to a coupling or connector designed so that any two units can be joined together regardless of gendered orientation.
“The spacecraft used an androgynous docking system to link with the station.”
“The engineering team specified an androgynous interface to ensure that any two modules could provide emergency power to one another.”
Usage
Used primarily in aerospace and specialized hardware engineering.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Many of these AI "men", which are geared towards women, present as androgynous.” “Photograph: Helen Maybanks Walter, elegantly androgynous, again makes a clear-eyed and upstanding idealist in Brutus, motivated to preserve the city’s republican freedoms (“Not that I loved Caesar less but I loved Rome more”).” “Here, Chinese "cosplayers" Baozi and Hana, who attended Singapore's Anime Festival Asia, talk why they like to challenge the superhero stereotype with androgynous and female characters.” Etymology
From Latin androgynus (“man-woman, hermaphrodite”), from Ancient Greek ἀνδρόγῠνος (andrógŭnos), from ἀνήρ (anḗr, “man”) + γῠνή (gŭnḗ, “woman”) + -ος (-os, “-ous”, adjectival suffix), equivalent to andro- + gyno- + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/androgynous