intersex

1 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​sex ˈin-tər-ˌseks 

1

: an individual having the condition of intersexuality

2

: intersexuality

intersex

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to intersexuality

intersex conditions

also : exhibiting intersexuality

an intersex individual

Examples of intersex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Throughout it all — from her pageant win to her rise to viral fame — Blankenship underscores the fact that her experience as an intersex individual isn't universal. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Gallo appears in Fixed as Frankie, an intersex Dobermann who works at a club that the dogs visit on their raucous night out. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Adjective

In the spirit of that victory, Blankenship has continued advocating for intersex people on social media and beyond. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Which Common Types Of Id In The U.s. Offer The X Gender Marker? The U.S. issued its first passport with an X gender marker in October 2021 to a military veteran who is intersex, joining more than 10 countries that offered a third gender option on passports. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from German Intersex, probably back-formation from intersexuell intersexual

Note: Intersex was introduced by the German biologist Richard Goldschmidt (1878-1958) in "Vorläufige Mitteilung über weitere Versuche zur Vererbung und Bestimmung des Geschlechts," Biologisches Centralblatt, 53. Band, No. 12 (20. Dezember 1915) pp. 565-70. Goldschmidt used the word in English in a translation of this article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 2, no. 1 (January 15, 1916), pp. 53-58 ("A Preliminary Report on Further Experiments in Inheritance and Determination of Sex").

Adjective

from attributive use of intersex entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intersex

• atriplex
• biconvex
• bottlenecks
• circumflex
• multiplex
• unisex
• annex
• annexe
• apex
• aztecs
• carex
• codecs

Kids Definition

intersex

noun

in·​ter·​sex ˈint-ər-ˌseks 

: an individual that is intermediate in sexual characteristics between a typical male and a typical female

Medical Definition

intersex

1 of 2 noun

in·​ter·​sex

ˈint-ər-ˌseks

1

: an individual having the condition of intersexuality

2

: intersexuality

intersex

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to intersexuality

intersex conditions

also : exhibiting intersexuality

an intersex individual