Non-binary or nonbinary?
non-binary is an adjective meaning “Not binary”; nonbinary is an adjective meaning “Alternative form of non-binary”. non-binary is written with a hyphen and nonbinary as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between non-binary and nonbinary?
| non-binary | nonbinary | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, noun | adjective, noun |
| Meaning | Not binary Having or pertaining to a gender identity not represented by the gender binary; not exclusively male or female; genderqueer Something which is not a binary; a computer file that is not readable text | Alternative form of non-binary |
| Example | Please don't post non-binaries into alt.binaries.doom. Pretty please | none recorded |
| Pronunciation | /nɔnˈbaɪ.nɛɹ.i/ /nɔnˈbaɪ.nɚ.i/ /nɑnˈbaɪ.nɛɹ.i/ | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | about once in every 5 million words |
Sources: non-binary and nonbinary in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of non-binary and nonbinary
non-binary
- 1
Not binary
- 2
Something which is not a binary; a computer file that is not readable text
Please don't post non-binaries into alt.binaries.doom. Pretty please
- 3
Having or pertaining to a gender identity not represented by the gender binary; not exclusively male or female; genderqueer
- 4
informalA non-binary (genderqueer) person
For quotations using this term, see Citations:non-binary
nonbinary
- 1
Alternative form of non-binary
- 2
Alternative form of non-binary
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, non-binary or nonbinary?
non-binary is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; nonbinary about once in every 5 million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).