asexual

[ ey-sek-shoo-uhl ]

adjective

1. Zoology, Botany.
   1. having no organs of reproduction:

      In nature, there are numerous examples of asexual plant and animal species.

   2. independent of sexual processes, especially not involving the union of male and female germ cells:

      Asexual reproduction is common among echinoderms such as starfish, basket stars, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers.

2. experiencing little or no sexual attraction to other people: Compare graysexual ( def 1 ).

   a woman who identifies as asexual.

3. not involving sex or sexual feelings; nonsexual: an asexual hug.

   an asexual friendship;

   an asexual hug.

noun

1. a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to other people. Compare graysexual ( def 2 ).

asexual

/ ˌæ-; eɪˈsɛksjʊəl; eɪˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ; æ- /

adjective

1. having no apparent sex or sex organs
2. (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of male and female gametes, as in vegetative reproduction, fission, or budding

Derived Forms

• asexuality, noun
• aˈsexually, adverb

Other Words From

• a·sex·u·al·i·ty [ey-sek-shoo-, al, -i-tee], noun
• a·sex·u·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of asexual¹

First recorded in 1820–30; a- ⁶ + sexual

Example Sentences

The ambiance is almost asexual as rockabilly and Motown play in the background.

From The Daily Beast

But whether good or bad, all are light as a soufflé, radiating asexual whiteness in every note.

From The Daily Beast

New York magazine art critic Jerry Saltz described it as “fabulously complex, sexual, asexual, mysterious, powerful, impish.”

From The Daily Beast

His encounter with a female Israeli soldier who seems at first rife for a sexual experience, ultimately proves an asexual one.

From The Daily Beast

So when aging, largely asexual cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester announced her pregnancy, Gleeks barely blinked an eye.

From The Daily Beast

Here they enter red corpuscles as young malarial parasites, and the majority pass through the asexual cycle just described.

From Project Gutenberg

Still other plants, mosses and ferns, give rise to two kinds of spores, sexual and asexual.

From Project Gutenberg

All of the above means of propagation are asexual and are of importance in our problem of plant breeding.

From Project Gutenberg

Asexual, a-seks′ū-al, adj. without sex, once applied to cryptogams—agamic.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus I have endeavored to sum up the processes of asexual and of sexual reproduction.

From Project Gutenberg