sexual
adjective
of, relating to, or for sex.
Jump to:
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sexual
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-sexual
-sexuala combining form extracted from heterosexual and homosexual, used to describe a person's sexual orientation or identity: polysexual.
sexual
1 American
[sek-shoo-uhl, seks-yoo-]
/ ˈsɛk ʃu əl, ˈsɛks yu- /
adjective
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of, relating to, or for sex.
Publicly discussing sexual matters was frowned upon in those days.
The store is known for selling sexual aids.
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occurring between or involving the sexes.
In humans, melatonin concentrations are related to sexual maturation, with significant decreases occurring at the onset of puberty.
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having sexual organs or reproducing by processes involving both sexes.
The patterns of genetic variation in sexual species tend to be very different from those in asexual species.
-sexual
2
American
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a combining form extracted from heterosexual and homosexual, used to describe a person's sexual orientation or identity: polysexual.
pansexual;
polysexual.
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a combining form extracted from metrosexual, used to describe a person's lifestyle, appearance, or way of dressing with regard to attracting or choosing a romantic partner: lumbersexual.
vegansexual;
lumbersexual.
sexual
British
/ ˈsɛksjʊəl /
adjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by sex or sexuality
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(of reproduction) characterized by the union of male and female gametes Compare asexual
Other Word Forms
- antisexual adjective
- antisexually adverb
- nonsexual adjective
- nonsexually adverb
- sexually adverb
- unsexual adjective
- unsexually adverb
Etymology
Origin of sexual
First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin sexuālis, from sexu(s) sex + -ālis -al 1
Compare meaning
How does sexual compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Anything that's related to reproduction can be described as sexual. It's also used to describe an intimate kind of attraction that occurs between people. Sexual reproduction happens in animals (including people) when a female's egg and a male's sperm fuse together and go through a process of cell division which results in a baby — or a litter of baby animals. People also use this adjective for things that are connected to or suggest sex, in both the "intimate contact" sense, and also the physical differences that define men and women.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As an adult attending law school at night, she helped survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault navigate the judicial system.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
They worked to exclude religious schools anyway by forbidding participants from discriminating based on religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
The bronze statue, which depicts a girl seated next to an empty chair, was given to New Zealand by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, a non-government group advocating against military sexual slavery.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
Urge legislators to take action to limit mandatory arbitration, as when Congress enacted a law in 2022 prohibiting sexual harassment and sexual assault claims from being forced into arbitration.
From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026
“And I’m asexual, so I don’t do sexual relationships,” Nemo said.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.