Neuterspecified

Neuterspecified is a term used in discussions about gender neutrality and data design to describe practices, forms, or labels that deliberately avoid or minimize gender specification. As a neologism, it is not widely standardized in dictionaries, but it has appeared in online discourse, policy notes, and design guidance to capture a particular approach: presenting information in a neutral, non-gendered way or keeping gender attributes intentionally unspecified.

Etymology and scope. The word combines neuter or neutral connotations with specified, signaling that a field or category is not assigned to a gender or is labeled in a way that does not reveal gender. It is often invoked in contrast to gendered specifications (for example, male/female fields) or to explicitly gendered language. In practice, neuterspecified can apply to data collection (choosing not to require gender, or offering a nonbinary option alongside “not stated”), to linguistic form (using gender-neutral pronouns or nouns), or to user interfaces that present neutral descriptors.

Usage and examples. In surveys or databases, a neuterspecified option may appear as “not stated” or “unspecified” to avoid implying a gender. In software design, neuterspecified defaults can reduce bias or stigmatization by not anchoring content to a gender category. In linguistics, the term can describe systems that avoid gender-marked agreement or pronouns altogether. The term is often discussed alongside debates about inclusivity, privacy, and the trade-offs between precision and neutrality.

Criticism and discussion. Critics argue that excessive neuterspecification can obscure identity or reduce cultural specificity, while supporters highlight privacy protection, inclusivity, and the avoidance of erroneous gender assumptions.

See also: gender neutrality, inclusive language, data minimization, privacy by design, anonymization.