Connect with WOK members who identify as Polygender — and learn what it means.
Identity is personal.
Respect is universal.
Curiosity is welcome.
Polygender is a gender identity where a person experiences multiple genders, either at the same time or shifting between them over time. Unlike pangender, which implies identification with all genders, polygender people typically identify with several—but not necessarily all—genders, in a way that is personal, dynamic, and unique to each individual.
This identity acknowledges that gender can be multifaceted and non-linear, and that someone can hold more than one gender identity at once—such as being both agender and feminine, or a mix of masculine, nonbinary, and xenogender experiences.
The term polygender is derived from the Greek prefix “poly-” meaning “many,” and was developed within LGBTQIA+ and nonbinary communities to describe individuals who identify with more than one gender identity.
Polygender can be fluid, stable, or fluctuating. For some, their genders shift or cycle. For others, their identities coexist consistently. The important distinction is that polygender encompasses many gender identities, but not all—making it a distinct identity from pangender or omnigender.
Polygender identity is important because it challenges the idea that gender must be singular or fixed. It affirms the reality that multiple gender experiences can coexist within one person and that those experiences are valid—regardless of whether they are binary, nonbinary, abstract, or changing over time.
Recognizing polygender individuals means respecting their complexity and being open to a wide range of pronouns, presentations, and self-definitions. It also helps expand the social understanding of gender beyond simple or binary models, supporting a more inclusive view of identity.
Multigender – A general umbrella term for having more than one gender. Polygender is a specific identity within this category.
Pangender – Involves identifying with all genders. Polygender differs in that it involves many, but not all, genders.
Bigender / Trigender – Involve identifying with two or three genders. Polygender expands beyond this to include multiple identities.
Genderfluid – A gender that shifts over time. Some polygender people are fluid, while others may experience all their genders simultaneously.
Omnigender – Involves experiencing or identifying with all genders, sometimes with a focus on recognizing them rather than being all of them at once.
Nonbinary – An umbrella term for identities outside the male/female binary. Polygender is typically considered a nonbinary identity.
To be polygender is to recognize and embrace the diversity of your own gender experience. It’s a powerful identity that reflects the truth that gender is not always singular, and that people can embody many different identities at once or over time.
In a society that often demands clear, fixed categories, polygender individuals remind us that identity is complex, personal, and expansive—and that’s something to be respected and celebrated.