What Is a Demiboy? (+ How to Tell if You Are One)

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LGBTQIA+ activist and educator NV Gay explains what a demiboy is & the signs you may be one

Co-authored by Inge Hansen, PsyD and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: March 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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• What is a demiboy?
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• Signs You’re a Demiboy
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• History
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• Demiboy Flag
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• Related Terms
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• Video

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Do you kind of feel like a man, but not entirely? You may be a demiboy! This gender identity falls under the transgender and nonbinary umbrella terms and describes people who partially identify as a man and partially as another gender. In this article, we partnered with LGBTQIA+ experts to explain more about what a demiboy is and the signs you might be one. We’ll also go over the history of the term, and more.

Demiboy Definition

LGBTQIA+ activist and educator NV Gay says a demiboy is a person who partially identifies as male and partially identifies as another gender. They often present masculinely but don’t feel entirely aligned with manhood. Demiboys feel this way regardless of their assigned sex at birth and can use any pronouns.

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Section 1 of 5:

What is a demiboy?

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1. 
   A demiboy is someone who partially identifies as male. According to Gay, “Demiboy is a nonbinary gender identity that refers to someone who feels as if they are partially male, and partially another gender identity.” Their gender identity is not wholly binary, meaning they feel connected to masculinity or being male, but not entirely. Demiboys feel this way regardless of their assigned gender at birth and can also fall under the transgender umbrella term. The prefix “demi-” means “half” or “partial.”

   • “This identity varies from person to person, as there is not one way to be ‘demigender,’” explains Gay. For example, a demiboy might feel 60% male and 40% nonbinary.
   • Gay says demiboys can be both AMAB (Assigned Male At Birth) or AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth).
   • Demiboys often present masculinely but do not feel entirely aligned with the male gender. Gay notes that their expression can be (but is not limited to) masculine, feminine, or androgynous.
   • Demiboys can use any pronouns. Gay says they often use he/him, they/them, or a combination.
   • Other terms for demiboy include demiguy, demiman, demimale, and demidude.
   • Demimasc is a subset of the demiboy identity, often used by those who don’t feel comfortable using more gendered terms like “boy” or “dude.”

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   NV Gay is an LGBTQIA+ activist, educator, and culture expert. They focus on empowering and uplifting marginalized communities through art and public speaking.

   Inge Hansen, PsyD is a transgender and diversity specialist. She’s also the director of Well-Being at Stanford University and the Weiland Health Initiative.
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Section 2 of 5:

Signs You Might Be a Demiboy

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1. 1
   You feel connected to being a man and another gender. Regardless of your assigned gender, you may be a demiboy if you feel a strong connection to masculinity or being a man. However, Gay says that you might feel that masculinity is only part of your identity, and you may feel uncomfortable with being referred to exclusively as a “man.”

   • For example, you may also feel like you’re partly a girl, nonbinary, or agender.
2. 2
   You identify with the non-binary experience. Nonbinary is an umbrella term for any gender identities that fall outside the traditional male/female binary. Since demiboys fall under the nonbinary umbrella, you may feel like your gender is not exclusively male or female. You may feel disconnected from assigned gender roles or feel comfortable with a fluid or shifting sense of self.
3. 3
   You experience fluidity in your gender. Your gender may fluidly fluctuate between different genders, or you may feel a percentage balance between your genders (e.g., 40% male and 60% non-binary), says Gay. For instance, you may feel more masculine on certain days and more feminine or gender-neutral on others.

   • Still, you identify with your masculine traits most often.
4. 4
   Your relationship with masculinity differs from societal norms. If you’re a demiboy, you may feel disconnected from traditional forms of masculinity. The expectations of what it means to be a man don’t entirely resonate with you. You may feel more comfortable with a blend of masculinity and femininity or gender-neutral traits.
5. 5
   You experience gender dysphoria. Transgender and diversity specialist Inge Hansen, PsyD, explains, “Gender dysphoria is a sense of discomfort or dissatisfaction with one’s assigned gender or sex. Sometimes it centers around certain body parts, and other times it’s more focused on the roles, behaviors, or general appearance associated with one’s assigned gender.” As a demiboy, you may experience dysphoria regardless of whether you were assigned male or female at birth.

   • Regardless of your assigned sex, you may feel uncomfortable being labeled strictly as a man even if you present masculinely.
   • Gay adds that it isn’t always easy to identify dysphoria: “Sometimes, you just feel off about yourself. You feel wrong. You feel like something is missing.” They recommend talking to a gender therapist who is licensed and experienced in working with transgender individuals.
6. 6
   You prefer gender-neutral or masculine terms. Demiboys can use any pronouns, but you may feel less connected to feminine pronouns like “she/her.” You may prefer going by “he/him,” “he/they,” or “they/them,” as these pronouns reflect your connection to masculinity and another gender.
7. 7
   You resonate with the term “demiboy.” Gender is a spectrum, and many people have trouble finding a label they identify with. However, if you were really excited to discover the term “demiboy” and feel like the term resonates with you, it’s a strong sign you are a demiboy!

   • Feel free to try the label out, even if you aren’t 100% sure it’s for you. Labels aren’t permanent and may change as you continue to explore your gender identity. It’s okay to identify as something else later on.
   • Think you might be a demiboy? Take our demiboy quiz to learn more about your gender identity!
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Section 3 of 5:

History of the Term “Demiboy”

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1. The first known use of the term “demiboy” occurred in 2010. On August 12, 2010, a user named Bad Patient made a post on AVEN, stating that adding “demi-” to the front of their gender might help them find a word for their gender identity. While they went on to say that they weren’t being serious, other users gradually picked up the term. “Demigirl” and “demiguy” were added to the AVEN Gender Definitions Masterlist on December 12, 2010, and to the Genderqueer Identities & Terminology page of the Genderqueerid blog in 2014.

   • The term continued to gain awareness throughout the following years. By 2014, the prefix “demi-” was commonly known in relation to genders, and many people began making demiboy flags and symbols throughout 2014 and 2015.

Section 4 of 5:

What is the demiboy pride flag?

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1. The demiboy flag is a gray, blue, and white striped flag. The most common version of the flag features 7 horizontal stripes, alternating between dark gray, light gray, light blue, and white. The blue symbolizes masculinity and manhood, the white represents the nonbinary or agender aspect of the identity, and the grey signifies the “gray” or “in-between” nature of the identity.

   • The flag was created by Tumblr users in 2015.
   • There are some alternative demiboy flags, but these are less common. Most of them still incorporate the colors blue, gray, and white.
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Section 5 of 5:

Related Terms

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1. 
   1
   Demigirl A demigirl is a person who partially identifies with a feminine identity or as a girl but is not wholly binary. Anyone can be a demigirl, regardless of their assigned sex. Like demiboys, demigirls fall under the trans and nonbinary umbrellas.
2. 2
   Nonbinary A nonbinary (or enby) person is someone whose gender identity does not fall within the traditional binary of male or female. They may feel as if they are both, neither, or a mixture of two or more genders. Nonbinary is often used as an umbrella term for any gender identities existing outside of the male-female binary, including demiboys and demigirls.
3. 3
   Transgender Transgender describes anyone whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth or does not conform to conventional notions of male and female. Transgender people may identify within the gender binary, somewhere between male and female, or entirely outside the gender binary. It’s often used as an umbrella term.
4. 4
   Transmasculine Transmasculine, often shortened to transmasc, is an umbrella term that describes a person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as trans, nonbinary, or otherwise gender diverse. Their gender expression is typically more masculine. Demiboys may choose to use the transmasculine umbrella term.
5. 5
   Genderqueer Genderqueer is a term referring to people who identify as neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders. Genderqueer people may identify as nonbinary, genderfluid, or another identity. Demiboys may fall under the genderqueer umbrella.
6. 6
   Genderfluid Genderfluid refers to a person whose gender can shift and change from various points on the spectrum, meaning they could feel like one gender at one point in time and another gender the next. They may feel as though their gender is in a constant state of motion.
7. 
   7
   Bigender Bigender refers to a person who identifies as both a masculine and a feminine gender (or other genders). They may shift between these identities or feel as though their gender identity encompasses a combination of both of their identities.
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