opposite sex

[ op-uh-zit seks, op-uh-sit ]

noun
  1. Often the opposite sex . women in reference to men or men in reference to women: Do you have many friends of the opposite sex?

adjective
  1. Usually opposite-sex . of or relating to two or more persons of different genders: The study is about relationships between children and their opposite-sex parents.Opposite-sex marriage is more normalized than same-sex marriage.

Origin of opposite sex

1
First recorded in 1710–30

usage note For opposite sex

The phrase opposite sex relies on an assumption that men and women are indeed opposites. This upholds a binary view of gender, and also usually conflates sex and gender, both of which may be considered controversial. A less binary version of the phrase is other genders.

Words Nearby opposite sex

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use opposite sex in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opposite sex

opposite sex

noun
  1. the opposite sex women in relation to men or men in relation to women

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012