nonbinary
adjective
non·bi·na·ry
ˌnän-ˈbī-nə-rē 
-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
Phoebe Roe… many people with nonbinary genders use "they" and "their" pronouns …—Lucy Brisbane
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
Christina M. XiaoExamples of nonbinary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Welcome Project offers free and low-cost programs, including support groups for LGBTQ+ and questioning individuals as well as safe spaces for trans and nonbinary communities.
—
Josh Sanders,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Her own journey prompted her family to start The GenderCool project, a non-profit focused on uplifting trans and nonbinary youth by sharing stories of positivity.
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
In 2021, track athlete Nikki Hiltz came out publicly as nonbinary.
—
Hannah Matthews,
Vogue,
23 June 2026
That’s not to say nothing happens — Cyd (an excellent Jessie Pinnick) romances a nonbinary barista and bonds with her writer aunt — but the events take second fiddle to the 16-year-old’s exhilaratingly ordinary journey of self-discovery.
—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonbinary
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.
Josh Sanders,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Her own journey prompted her family to start The GenderCool project, a non-profit focused on uplifting trans and nonbinary youth by sharing stories of positivity.
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
In 2021, track athlete Nikki Hiltz came out publicly as nonbinary.
—
Hannah Matthews,
Vogue,
23 June 2026
That’s not to say nothing happens — Cyd (an excellent Jessie Pinnick) romances a nonbinary barista and bonds with her writer aunt — but the events take second fiddle to the 16-year-old’s exhilaratingly ordinary journey of self-discovery.
—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonbinary
Cite this Entry
“Nonbinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbinary. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nonbinary
adjective
non·bi·na·ry
-ˈbī-nə-rē
-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
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
Christina Richards et al., International Review of PsychiatryLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
