gender nonconforming

adjective

: exhibiting behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits that do not correspond with the traits typically associated with one's sex : having a gender expression that does not conform to gender norms
A bill before the Legislature would amend the law to protect transgender and gender nonconforming people from discrimination in public spaces, such as hospitals, coffee shops, and retail stores. Tom Bourdon
gender nonconformity noun
Gender identity refers to an individual's internalized psychological experience of being male or female, whereas gender nonconformity refers to the degree to which an individual's appearance, behavior, interests, and subjective self-concept deviate from conventional norms for masculinity/femininity. Lisa M. Diamond et al.

Examples of gender nonconforming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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By the numbers: Recent state surveys show roughly 3% of ninth graders identify as transgender girls or gender nonconforming. Torey Van Oot, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025 Seventy-five percent of the cohort are artists of color, while 56 percent identify as women and 18 percent as gender nonconforming, transgender, or nonbinary. News Desk, Artforum, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gender nonconforming was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“Gender nonconforming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender%20nonconforming. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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