menwomen

Menwomen is a neologism that combines the words men and women. In practice, it is used as a shorthand reference to the two sexes or to a collective group of adult humans. It is not a standard term in contemporary English, and most formal writing prefers the phrase “men and women” or “adult humans.”

Origins and usage: The term appears mainly in informal writing, online discussions, or as a variable name in datasets or software where space is limited. It is rarely found in dictionaries or scholarly literature as an established term. When used, it is typically present as a coinage within a specific context rather than as a broadly accepted label.

Applications and limitations: In demographic tables or analyses, “menwomen” may be used as a label for aggregated data covering male and female respondents; however, this can blur sex-based differences and may obscure variations within each group. In discourse on gender equality, the term is often avoided in favor of explicit references to men and women or inclusive language that also acknowledges nonbinary and other gender identities. Critics argue that the coinage risks reinforcing a binary view of gender and can reduce nuanced discussion of gender-related issues.

See also: gender, sex, gender equality, inclusive language.