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In a general term a hermaphrodite is any creature capable of producing either sperm or eggs as necessary. For many creatures this is totally normal.

In humans it is anyone with either both male and female components to their genetalia. Most frequently this is just a child with very ambigous genetalia, so the doctors can't really tell what they are. The stereotyped hermaphrodite with both male and female organs, is incredibly rare. There is also a type of hermaphorditism where the child is born looking like a normal female, but then turns into a sort of pseudomale at puberty. I can't remember what this is called, sorry. Jared Diamond wrote a wonderful article on it called Turning a Man on Discover.com.

Replying to Missy Wyvern's post, there is a condition called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) similar to what you describe. In that disease the child is genetically male (has an x and a y chromosome) but has a genetic mutation which renders them insensitive to the hormone testosterone.

In the normal development of an embryo, it will become a female unless it receieves a genetic signal to do otherwise. In a male a gene (can't remember the name but its not that important) is turned on, which turns the ambigous genetalia which an embryo possessses into testes. The testes then produce testosterone. In a normal embryo this then converts the rest of the genetalia into male genatails, and conditions the brain and the rest of the body to become male. In AIS however, the body doesn't notice testosterone. So, the rest of the body becomes female. However the womb never develops and there are testes where the ovaries should be.

The end result is a very beautiful, and completely sterile woman who is genetically male.

I think a hermaphrodite is somebody who looks like one gender on the outside but has a different genetic code. For example if a female were a hermaphrodite, then she may have the genetic code for a male (xy) but look like a girl. But she could have no ovaries or uterus.

Hermaphroditos, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, became united in a single body with a nymph. (I know, I know... mythology? Well.. it's the legend that goes along with it.)

Basically, it's any living animal, plant, or human being with the organs of both a male and female.

That would be interesting..