cisgender
Cisgender (adjective) means having a gender identity that matches the sex recorded at birth. Example: “The survey compared health outcomes for transgender and cisgender patients.”
How to use cisgender
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who feels themselves to be the gender they were said to be at birth.
A neutral descriptive term used in medicine, research and general writing; often shortened to cis.
Use it as an adjective before a noun, as in cisgender women, rather than as a noun for a person.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The survey compared health outcomes for transgender and _____ patients.
Etymology
From the Latin prefix cis- meaning on this side of, formed as the counterpart to trans- meaning across, plus gender.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cisgender
See all rhymes for cisgender →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cisgender and heterosexual?
Cisgender is about gender identity, meaning whether a person's sense of their own gender matches the sex recorded at birth. Heterosexual is about sexual orientation, meaning who a person is attracted to. A person can be cisgender and gay, or transgender and straight.
Why does the prefix cis- exist?
It supplies a plain word for the majority case so that transgender people are not implicitly treated as the only group with a gender identity. Cis- and trans- are a standard pair in Latin, geography and chemistry.
Is cisgender the same as cis?
Yes. Cis is simply the short form and means exactly the same thing, though the full word is preferred in formal writing.
What is the meaning of cisgender?
"cisgender" (adjective) means having a gender identity that matches the sex recorded at birth.