Gender & identity

Non-binary

AlsoNBnonbinaryenbynon binarynon binary personnonbinary people

Definition

Describes a person whose gender identity is not exclusively woman or man. It can mean being both, neither, somewhere in between, or moving between genders.

At a glance

  • A gender identity that is not only woman or man.
  • Both a specific identity and an umbrella for others, like agender or genderfluid.
  • Pronouns vary: many use they/them, but not everyone does.
  • Enby is an informal word for a non-binary person.

In detail

Non-binary is both a specific identity and an umbrella for many others, such as genderqueer, agender, genderfluid and bigender. Non-binary people may or may not consider themselves transgender, and may or may not change their appearance, name or body.

Many non-binary people use they/them pronouns, but some use she/her, he/him, neopronouns, or a mix. The informal word enby comes from the letters N and B. The abbreviation NB is sometimes avoided because it is also used for non-Black in discussions about race.

In a sentence

  • Sam is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.
  • I came out as non-binary to my friends last year.

Where the word comes from

Binary means having two parts. Non-binary began as a description of identities outside the woman-man binary and was widely used as an identity term by the 2010s.

Not to be confused with

  • Intersex

    Non-binary is a gender identity; intersex describes physical sex characteristics.

Common questions

Are all non-binary people transgender?

Some non-binary people consider themselves trans and some do not. It is best to follow how each person describes themselves.

How do I know which pronouns to use?

Use the pronouns someone shares with you. If you are unsure, it is fine to ask privately and politely, or to use their name.

Related terms

Sources

  1. American Psychological AssociationTransgender people, gender identity and gender expression