epicene

UK: /ˈɛpɪˌsiːn/ US: (ep′i sēn′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ep•i•cene  (ep′i sēn′), adj. 

1. belonging to, or partaking of the characteristics of, both sexes:
   Fashions in clothing are becoming increasingly epicene.
2. flaccid;
   feeble;
   weak:
   an epicene style of writing.
3. effeminate;
   unmasculine.
4. Grammar (of Greek and Latin nouns) of the same gender class regardless of the sex of the being referred to, as Latin vulpēs "fox or vixen'' is always grammatically feminine.
5. Grammar (of a noun or pronoun) capable of referring to either sex, as attendant, chairperson, Kim, one, or they;
   having common gender.

n. 

6. a person or thing that is epicene.

• Greek epíkoinos common to many, equivalent. to epi- epi- + koinós common
• Latin epicoenus of both genders
• late Middle English 1400–50

ep′i•cen′ism, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

epicene / ˈɛpɪˌsiːn/ adjective

1. having the characteristics of both sexes; hermaphroditic
2. of neither sex; sexless
3. effeminate
4. denoting a noun that may refer to a male or a female, such as teacher as opposed to businessman or shepherd
5. (in Latin, Greek, etc) denoting a noun that retains the same grammatical gender regardless of the sex of the referent

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin epicoenus of both genders, from Greek epikoinos common to many, from koinos common

ˌepiˈcenism noun