inventeurinventrice

Inventeurinventrice is a neologism in the French language that blends the masculine noun inventeur with the feminine inventrice into a single form. The intention behind the coinage is to refer to an inventor without indicating gender, reflecting ongoing discussions about gender-inclusive language in professional terms.

The term is formed by concatenating the two gendered bases, a construction that appears primarily in linguistic and feminist debates on orthography and inclusivity. It is not part of standard French spelling and is rarely found outside specialized or theoretical writings. Because it is nonstandard, its recognition and acceptance vary among readers, editors, and organizations.

Usage of inventeurinventrice tends to occur in discussions about inclusive language, such as academic papers, glossaries, or editorials that examine how to represent both genders in occupational terms. In everyday writing, most style guides and publishers prefer alternatives, such as inventeur et inventrice, inventeur/inventrice, or the use of neutral forms and gendered parentheses (inventeur(e)) or gender-neutral pronouns.

Reception to the term is mixed. Proponents view it as a creative means to challenge default masculine forms and to foreground gender diversity. Critics argue that it is cumbersome and disrupts readability, urging writers to adopt clearer alternatives. The appropriate choice often depends on the publication’s language policy, audience, and the broader approach to inclusive writing.

See also: gender-inclusive language, inclusive writing, masculine default, French orthography debates.