Image copyright
Getty Images
Singer Sam Smith came out as non-binary this year, and confirmed that their pronouns are they/them
Merriam-Webster has named “they” its word of the year.
The US dictionary also recently added a new definition of “they”, reflecting its use as a singular personal pronoun for non-binary people.
Searches for “they” on Merriam-Webster’s website were 313% higher this year than they were in 2018.
British pop star Sam Smith came out as non-binary in March, and in September confirmed on Instagram that their pronouns were “they/them”.
Announcing their pronouns, Smith wrote: “I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering, but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now.”
A number of other high-profile non-binary figures were also in the news this year.
Image copyright
Getty Images
Non-binary model Oslo Grace shot to prominence this year
Catwalk model Oslo Grace rose to prominence in January, and spoke to fashion magazines Vogue and Dazed and Confused about their gender identity and the fashion world.
Another non-binary model, Ayesha Tan Jones, was also in the news in September – for staging a silent protest while walking a Gucci show in September.
Non-binary artists have gained prominence in the UK too.
Travis Alabanza’s play Burgerz is based on a transphobic attack in which someone threw a burger at them, while Amrou al-Kadhi – aka Glamrou – released their memoir Unicorn, on life as a Muslim drag queen.
Media playback is unsupported on your device
Last month, Collins dictionary also recognised the term “non-binary” as a description of people who do not identify as male or female.
However its word of the year (actually, words of the year) was “climate strike”, after an international protest movement calling for action to combat the climate crisis.
Previous Merriam-Webster words of the year
2018: justice
2017: feminism
2016: surreal
2015: -ism
2014: culture