Wondering what it means to be nonbinary? We can help. Read on as we explore the definition of nonbinary, synonyms, antonyms and more.
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Kevin
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January 24, 2022
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Common Questions
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What Does Non-Binary Mean?
Most people are either male or female. Some, however, don’t neatly fit into the boxes of “male” or “female,” or “man” or “woman.” For instance, some individuals have a gender that intertwines elements of being a man or a woman, or even a gender that is completely different than male or female — and some folks don’t identify with any gender at all.
Those who identify with a gender that is neither male nor female use many different words to describe themselves, with non-binary being the most common.
Also known as “NB” or “enby,” non-binary is an umbrella term — not a third gender. Non-binary can be defined as an individual who expresses or identifies with a gender identity that is neither entirely female nor entirely male. Non-binary people may identify as gender-nonconforming, as well.
There are many individual identities that are often grouped under the non-binary umbrella, such as:
- Agender: a person without any specific gender identity
- Bigender: a person who identifies with two or more genders
- Genderqueer: a person with a specific gender that is not a binary gender
- Genderfluid: a person who identifies with a gender that frequently changes
What Is the History of Non-Binary Genders?
Believe it or not, non-binary genders date all the way back to 400 B.C. Ancient Hindu describes hijras — people who possessed both feminine and masculine traits in India. Hijras are sometimes viewed as trans women, but many historians suggest that they could have been both transgender people and/or intersex people as well as non-binary gender.
People all across the globe — like the ancient Celts and Indigenous people — have not only accepted but revered nonbinary people for many generations. In fact, Native Americans have people who are “Two-Spirit” that fill very specific roles within their communities.
More often than not, non-binary members of these communities would serve as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realm, man and woman, and more.
What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Non-Binary?
To help you obtain a deeper understanding of the term non-binary, here is a list of synonyms:
- Agender
- Cishet
- Gender bender
- Gender-diverse
- Androgynous
- Unisex
- Unisexual
- Genderqueer
- Two-spirit
- Hijra
- Gender-fluid
Here is a list of antonyms:
- Binary
- Sexual difference
- Binarism
- Cis
- Cisgender
- Cisexual
- Gender binarism
- Genderism
What Pronouns Should You Use for Non-Binary People?
It’s important to keep in mind that everyone is unique and may use different pronouns. While most people who are non-binary often prefer the pronoun “they,” it never hurts to ask someone how they wish to be identified.
According to The Trevor Project, there are a number of pronouns that can be used, such as:
- They, them, theirs
- She, her, hers
- He, him, his
- Ze, hir, hirs
- Ze, zir, zirs
- Xe, xim, xem
- Ee, em, eir
- Tey, ter, tem
- Ve, ver, vis
Keep in mind that there are some people who are non-binary that don’t use any pronouns at all and prefer to be referred to only by their name. Others stick with gender-neutral pronouns. Always be courteous and ask for the individual’s preferred pronoun. Using an incorrect pronoun is known as misgendering.
What Is Gender Identity? What Is Gender Expression?
In a nutshell, gender identity refers to an individual’s innermost sense of their own gender. Now, to be clear, this isn’t something that is governed by a person’s physical attributes. Gender expression, on the other hand, is how you express yourself, and just like the rest of society, those who are non-binary have all sorts of ways to express themselves and their unique identity.
These folks can present as feminine, masculine, or in another way, but none of these expressions make their identity any less valid or worthy of respect.
Are Gender and Sexuality the Same?
Despite what many people may think, gender and sexuality are not the same. While there is overlap, you can’t assume someone’s sexuality based on their gender and vice-versa.
Sex can refer to an individual’s physiology and anatomy — this can include phenotype, internal and external genitalia, hormones, chromosomes, etc. On the flip side, gender refers to the social norms, behaviors, and emotions that are often associated with being male or female. Gender is not an inherently a natural thing but rather a social construct that varies from society to society.
It’s common for non-binary people to identify as “queer,” “bisexual,” or “pansexual.” Since they are not cis-gendered, which describes a person whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth, they would not be considered heterosexual, which means “attracted to the opposite sex.”
Those who are non-binary can also be demi-sexual, a-sexual, may identify as gay or lesbian, or any other term that resonates with them.
Recap
So, what does non-binary mean?
Simply put, non-binary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t fit into the categories of “man” or “woman.”
Historically, gender non-conforming (GNC) has been used to refer to this group, but this was not as often used by those within the LGBTQ+ community to describe their gender. It fell out of use because it implied gender is something one must “conform” to — and that certainly isn’t true. Labels such as gender-variant are also used, but over time, non-binary has become the more common term.
At the end of the day, everyone is different. While some people identify with masculinity or femininity, others don’t — and that’s OK! Non-binary identities are just as valid as binary identities.
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