her·maph·ro·dite
(ˌ)hər-ˈma-frə-ˌdīt 
plural hermaphrodites
1
: an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs, structures, or tissue : an organism exhibiting hermaphroditism
2
: something that is a combination of diverse elements
: possessing both male and female reproductive organs, structures, or tissue : hermaphroditic
hermaphrodite plants
Like their relatives the earthworms, leeches are hermaphrodite animals. Each individual has both male and female sex organs but cannot fertilize itself.—
Mark Carwardine
Mark CarwardineExamples of hermaphrodite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Allen Salkin, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 July 2024
Then, there are hermaphrodites, which have both male and female reproductive organs.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
In her new book, Rowling introduces readers to Edie Ledwell, a creator of a popular YouTube cartoon who sees internet trolls and her own fandom turn on her after the cartoon was criticized as being racist and ableist, as well as transphobic for a bit about a hermaphrodite worm.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for hermaphrodite 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
The Oscar-winning actress who is supposedly a hermaphrodite.
—Allen Salkin, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 July 2024
Then, there are hermaphrodites, which have both male and female reproductive organs.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This is because papayas can produce either male flowers, female flowers or hermaphrodite flowers that have characteristics of both.
—Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
In her new book, Rowling introduces readers to Edie Ledwell, a creator of a popular YouTube cartoon who sees internet trolls and her own fandom turn on her after the cartoon was criticized as being racist and ableist, as well as transphobic for a bit about a hermaphrodite worm.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for hermaphrodite
Dictionary Entries Near hermaphrodite
Cite this Entry
“Hermaphrodite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hermaphrodite. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hermaphrodite
noun
her·maph·ro·dite
(ˌ)hər-ˈmaf-rə-ˌdīt
: a hermaphroditic plant or animal
Medical Definition
hermaphrodite
noun
her·maph·ro·dite
(ˌ)hər-ˈmaf-rə-ˌdīt
: an individual exhibiting hermaphroditism
hermaphrodite
adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share