Cambridge Dictionary updates the definition of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ 

Virgin Radio

14 Dec 2022, 10:33

Cambridge Dictionary online has given the words ‘man’ and ‘woman’ new definitions to be more inclusive. 

As reported by News.com.au, the dictionary has made a change to both the words to include those who identify as a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth.

‘Man’ in the Cambridge dictionary is now “an adult who lives and identifies as a male though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.”

The example of the definition given is: “Mark is a trans man (= a man who was said to be female when they were born).”

With a similar definition, ‘Woman’ now says: “an adult who lives and identifies as female though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth,” with the example given as “She was the first trans woman elected to a national office.”

Celebrating the decision, Dr Jane Hamlin, the president of the Beaumont Society, a charity which supports transgender and non-binary people, told The Telegraph: “This is such good news. 

“There has been so much misinformation and rubbish written about definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ lately, but these definitions are clear, concise and correct. Congratulations to the Cambridge Dictionary team!”

The Cambridge Dictionary  is not the first official dictionary to adapt its definition of both genders.

Back in July, Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary added a secondary definition of ‘female’ to include “having a gender identity that is the opposite of male.”