AMAB

AMAB stands for assigned male at birth. It is a term used to describe the sex designation given to a person at birth based on assessment of anatomy and, in some discussions, chromosomal information. The label is descriptive of birth assignment rather than a judgment about a person’s gender identity or current biological traits. In many contexts, AMAB is used alongside its counterpart AFAB (assigned female at birth) to discuss experiences, rights, and medical issues that pertain to people who were designated male or female at birth.

AMAB is not synonymous with gender identity. People assigned male at birth may identify as men, women, nonbinary, or other identities. Conversely, some individuals assigned male at birth identify as female or nonbinary. The term helps distinguish birth assignment from current gender expression or identity, which can change over time.

The term is commonly used in academic writing, medical discussions, and advocacy around transgender, intersex, and gender-nonconforming issues. It is part of a broader vocabulary intended to acknowledge the diversity of experiences and reduce assumptions based on appearance or birth assignment.

Some critics argue that AMAB can be clinical or disengage from personhood, and not all communities use it. As with any label, sensitivity to context, consent, and preferred terminology matters. See also AFAB, transgender, cisgender, nonbinary, intersex.