bisexual
[ bahy-sek-shoo-uhl ]
/ baɪˈsɛk ʃu əl /
adjective
noting or relating to a person who is romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to both men and women, or to people of various gender identities.
Biology.
- of both sexes.
- combining male and female organs in one individual.
noun
Biology. an animal or plant that has the reproductive organs of both sexes.
Sometimes Offensive. a person who is romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to both men and women, or to people of various gender identities.
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usage note for bisexual
As with many other labels used to describe people, the adjective form is preferred over the noun form, and the noun, while acceptable in the plural, can be offensive in the singular.
Traditionally bisexual has referred to romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to two, and no more than two, genders, specifically men and women. However, the term is increasingly being used to refer to a level of sexual fluidity in which an individual moves bidirectionally along a spectrum of sexuality. This newer sense accounts for attraction to people who do not fall within the gender binary.
Traditionally bisexual has referred to romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to two, and no more than two, genders, specifically men and women. However, the term is increasingly being used to refer to a level of sexual fluidity in which an individual moves bidirectionally along a spectrum of sexuality. This newer sense accounts for attraction to people who do not fall within the gender binary.
OTHER WORDS FROM bisexual
bi·sex·u·al·i·ty, bi·sex·u·al·ism, nounbi·sex·u·al·ly, adverbWords nearby bisexual
bisellium, biserial, biseriate, biserrate, bi sex, bisexual, bisexuality, bisferious pulse, bish, Bishkek, Bisho
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for bisexual
British Dictionary definitions for bisexual
bisexual
/ (baɪˈsɛksjʊəl) /
adjective
sexually attracted by both men and women
showing characteristics of both sexesa bisexual personality
(of some plants and animals) having both male and female reproductive organs
of or relating to both sexes
noun
a bisexual organism; a hermaphrodite
a bisexual person
Derived forms of bisexual
bisexuality (baɪˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ) or esp US bisexualism, nounbisexually, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for bisexual
bisexual
[ bī-sĕk′shōō-əl ]
adj.
Relating to both sexes.
Having both male and female reproductive organs; hermaphroditic.
Relating to or having a sexual orientation to persons of either sex.
n.
A bisexual organism; a hermaphrodite.
A bisexual person.
Other words from bisexual
bi′sex•u•al′i•ty (-ăl′ĭ-tē) n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.