nonbinary

adjective

non·​bi·​na·​ry ˌnän-ˈbī-nə-rē How to pronounce nonbinary (audio)
-ˌner-ē,
-ˌne-rē
: not binary: such as
a
: not restricted to two things or parts
nonbinary voting
b
: of, relating to, or being a system of numbers that does not use 2 as its base
nonbinary math
c
or non-binary : relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female
non-binary people
… an effort to create more equality for nonbinary and transgender students across campus.Phoebe Roe
… many people with nonbinary genders use "they" and "their" pronouns …Lucy Brisbane
… the normalization of sharing pronouns emphasizes the fact that everyone has preferred pronouns, not just trans and non-binary folks.Christina M. Xiao

Examples of nonbinary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump’s actions are putting at risk trans, intersex and nonbinary young people. Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025 That was the case for Ryan, the nonbinary employee in the USDA. Madison Pauly, Them, 24 Feb. 2025 The policy change, just one of many targeting trans and nonbinary people, has left both communities feeling afraid and unsafe. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dropped six lawsuits alleging workplace discrimination against transgender or nonbinary workers on Saturday, following Trump’s executive order to recognize male and female as the only two sexes. Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonbinary

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonbinary was in 1863

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonbinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbinary. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

nonbinary

adjective
non·​bi·​na·​ry -ˈbī-nə-rē How to pronounce nonbinary (audio)
-ˌner-ē
variants or non-binary
: relating to or being a person who identifies with or expresses a gender identity that is neither entirely male nor entirely female
Nonbinary people—individuals who identify as both male or female, neither male nor female, … and/or reject all gender identities—may experience unique mental health stressors due to cultural invisibility and ignorance surrounding nonbinary identities.Abbie E. Goldberg et al., The Counseling Psychologist
… some non-binary people who were assigned female at birth had chest surgery and/or took hormones. Others did not engage in these methods, but modified some visible markers of gender in other ways …Christina Richards et al., International Review of Psychiatry
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!