epicene role
- noun
- /ˈɛpɪsiːn roʊl/
:
rol epiceno
- Modern theater often includes at least one epicene role to challenge traditional gender norms.
Examples
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Casting directors are increasingly interested in performers who can play an epicene role convincingly.
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Many modern films include epicene roles to promote inclusivity.
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The actor embraced the epicene role, making the character relatable to everyone.
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The play features an epicene role that challenges traditional gender norms.
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Casting directors are increasingly interested in performers who can play an epicene role convincingly.
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Modern theater often includes at least one epicene role to challenge traditional gender norms.
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The actor embraced the epicene role, making the character relatable to everyone.
Synonyms
A character who looks or acts like both a man and a woman
Antonyms
How Gendered
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a role not specifically male or female' is directly and transparently derived from combining the adjective 'epicene' (neither clearly male nor female) with 'role' (a part or function). This follows the standard adjective+noun composition pattern and is cross-linguistically obvious, so a learner who knows both constituents would understand the phrase.
Etymology
The phrase epicene role comes from an old word epicene that meant someone for 'both sexes' rather than clearly male or female. Imagine a character that anyone can play, neither clearly a man nor a woman, and that's why the term now means a 'gender-neutral' role.