epicene
Neither masculine nor feminine
Epicene describes someone or something lacking clearly masculine or feminine characteristics—androgynous or gender-ambiguous: an epicene figure in flowing robes, his epicene beauty.
The word often carries a faintly disapproving tone, suggesting effeminacy in men.
In grammar, epicene refers to nouns that use one form for both sexes: "spouse," "artist," "chicken."
Being of mixed sex
- hermaphroditeBoth sexes in one
- intersexAtypical sex development
- unisexSuitable for any gender
- bisexualAttracted to multiple genders
effeminate · effete · sexless · asexual · ambisexual · two-spirit · third gender · eunuch
Word naming something
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- genderSocial identity category
- agreementShared position between parties
- declensionNoun form variation
inflection · case · syntax · neuter · singular · plural · antecedent · referent
Male seeming feminine
- effeteExhausted, overly refined
- weakLacking power or force
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- unmanlyLacking traditional masculine qualities
sexless · neuter · indeterminate · wishy-washy · insipid · vapid · limp · spineless
Starman glam rocker
- glam rockFlamboyant seventies musical style
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- haute coutureCustom luxury dressmaking
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
Grace Jones · Tilda Swinton · tailoring · minimalist · sleek · refined · delicate · ethereal
Self-indulgent, often corruptly
- fin-de-siècleCentury's closing period
- aestheteLover of the beautiful
- languidWeak and without vigor
- preciousHighly esteemed, greatly valued
Oscar Wilde · effete · rarefied · overwrought · mannered · artifice · cultivated · exquisite
androgyne
Being of mixed sex
- hermaphroditeBoth sexes in one
- intersexAtypical sex development
- unisexSuitable for any gender
bisexual · effeminate · effete · sexless · asexual · ambisexual · two-spirit · third gender · eunuch · castrato
noun
Word naming something
- pronounNoun's grammatical replacement
- genderSocial identity category
- agreementShared position between parties
declension · inflection · case · syntax · neuter · singular · plural · antecedent · referent · morphology
effeminate
Male seeming feminine
unmanly · sexless · neuter · indeterminate · wishy-washy · insipid · vapid · limp · spineless · emasculated
David Bowie
Starman glam rocker
- glam rockFlamboyant seventies musical style
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- haute coutureCustom luxury dressmaking
Grace Jones · Tilda Swinton · silhouette · tailoring · minimalist · sleek · refined · delicate · ethereal · striking
decadent
Self-indulgent, often corruptly
- fin-de-siècleCentury's closing period
- aestheteLover of the beautiful
- languidWeak and without vigor
Oscar Wilde · precious · effete · rarefied · overwrought · mannered · artifice · cultivated · exquisite · hothouse
- gender-neutralthey, them, their, themself, singular they
- grammatical gendermasculine, feminine, neuter, gender markers, die
- androgynyandrogyne, unisex, genderqueer, nonbinary, genderfluid
- gender identitiesmale, female, man, woman, men