adjective

AFAB

AY-fab

AFAB (adjective) means Assigned female at birth: recorded as female on a birth certificate on the basis of the body observed at delivery, regardless of the gender the person later identifies as. Example: “He is an AFAB trans man and started testosterone last year.”

adjective

Assigned female at birth: recorded as female on a birth certificate on the basis of the body observed at delivery, regardless of the gender the person later identifies as.

"He is an AFAB trans man and started testosterone last year."

"The study recruited both AFAB and AMAB participants."

noun

A person who was assigned female at birth.

"The support group is open to AFABs of any gender identity."

How to Use AFAB

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWritten down as a girl when they were born.

When to use it

Neutral. Standard in medical, research and LGBTQ+ contexts; usually written in capitals.

Memory tip

Use it only when birth assignment is actually relevant; otherwise use the gender the person identifies as.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

AFAB / AMAB AFAB / cisgender AFAB / female

Common pairings

AFAB non-binary AFAB trans man AFAB and AMAB

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He is an _____ trans man and started testosterone last year.

Etymology

An acronym of assigned female at birth.

Origin: English

Antonyms

AMAB

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between AFAB and female?

AFAB describes what was written down at birth, not who someone is. Many AFAB people are women, but AFAB also covers trans men and non-binary people who were recorded as female. Saying AFAB separates the medical record from the person's actual gender identity.

What is the difference between AFAB and AMAB?

They are the two counterparts: AFAB means assigned female at birth, AMAB means assigned male at birth. Both refer only to the sex recorded at delivery.

Is it rude to call someone AFAB?

It is a neutral clinical term and useful when the topic genuinely concerns birth-assigned sex, such as healthcare or research. Using it to label someone in ordinary conversation, or to imply their gender identity is not real, is generally considered rude.

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Vocabulary lists that include AFAB:

Words That End With B