androgynous
5 synonyms and 2 antonyms for androgynous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Having an appearance or style that mixes masculine and feminine features, so that a person does not read as clearly male or female.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Having an appearance or style that mixes masculine and feminine features, so that a person does not read as clearly male or female.
“The cut of the suit gave her a striking androgynous look.”
Opposites
2. adjective technical
In biology, having both male and female characteristics or reproductive parts.
“Many flowering plants are androgynous, carrying both stamens and pistils.”
How to use androgynous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral; standard in fashion, art criticism and biology.
Etymology
From Greek anēr, andr- 'man' and gynē 'woman'.
Full origin of androgynous →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between androgynous and non-binary?
Androgynous describes appearance or presentation that blends masculine and feminine cues, and says nothing about how a person identifies. Non-binary describes a gender identity outside the categories of man and woman. Someone can look androgynous and identify as a woman, or identify as non-binary and present in a very masculine or feminine way.
What is the difference between androgynous and unisex?
Unisex describes items designed to be worn or used by anyone, such as unisex sizing or a unisex fragrance. Androgynous describes the effect of a person's overall look, so it applies to people rather than product lines.
Is androgynous a compliment?
It is a neutral description, and in fashion and photography it is very often admiring. As with any comment on appearance, tone and context decide how it lands.