Appendix B – Gender-Neutral Terms

The CMHR strives to use inclusive language and avoid gendered terms wherever possible. The following list provides examples of gender-neutral terms. For a more complete list, see Gender-Neutral Equivalent Words.

Instead of this…	Use this…
actress	actor
airline stewardess	flight attendant
bride/groom	spouse, partner, mate
brotherhood	fellowship, camaraderie
brotherly	kind, helpful
cameraman, camerawoman	camera operator
chairman, chairwoman	chair person, chair
clergy men, clergy women	clergy, clerics, ministers, pastors, etc.
councilman	council member
doorman	doorkeeper, door attendant
Englishman	Englander, Briton
fireman	firefighter
forefathers	ancestors, forebears
Frenchmen	the French, French people
Handyman	fixer, handy person, maintenance person
Headmaster	principal
heroine	hero
hostess	host
housewife	homemaker
jack-of-all-trades	handyperson
journeyman	experienced tradesperson
king-size	huge, very large
layman	layperson
maid	house cleaner
maiden name	family name, birth name
mailman	letter carrier, mail carrier
male nurse	nurse
man (verb: to man)	operate, staff
mankind	humankind, humanity
master plan	main plan, primary plan
Miss	Ms.
mother tongue	first language, native language
no-man’s-land	uninhabited land, neutral zone
old wives’ tale	superstition
seamstress	tailor, sewer, mender, needleworker
showmanship	stage presence
spokesman, spokeswoman	spokesperson
statesman	leader, senior politician, diplomat
stewardess	flight attendant
taskmaster	supervisor, tyrant
waitress	server
workman	worker
yes-man	avid follower, supporter