Illustratoreillustratrice

Illustratoreillustratrice is a neologistic portmanteau used in Italian to denote an illustrator without signaling gender, by joining the masculine form illustratore with the feminine form illustratrice. The term is not part of standard Italian and is not listed in major dictionaries. It tends to appear in informal writing, on personal portfolios, and in discussions about inclusive language.

In Italian, most professional titles are gendered. The masculine form illustratore is used by default in many contexts, while the feminine illustratrice is employed when the subject is a woman. The combined form illustrates an effort to acknowledge both genders simultaneously, and it situates itself within broader debates on gender neutrality and visibility in professional titles. It is not widely adopted and may be perceived as informal or experimental.

Usage and reception: Because it is nonstandard, many readers will encounter it infrequently and may regard it as stylistic rather than linguistic guidance. Dictionaries do not standardize it; publishers and institutions generally prefer explicit forms such as illustratore e illustratrice, or the slash form illustratore/illustratrice.

Alternatives and guidance: In formal writing, prefer standard forms or explicit plural references: "l’illustratore e l’illustratrice", or use gender-neutral phrasing where possible, such as "professionisti dell’illustrazione" or "personale creativo che lavora nell’illustrazione" to avoid gendered forms.

See also: gender-inclusive language; Italian grammar; occupational titles in Italian.