bisexuality

American  

[bahy-sek-shoo-al-i-tee, -seks-yoo-] / ˌbaɪ sɛk ʃuˈæl ɪ ti, -sɛks yu- /

noun

1. sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of more than one gender, sometimes understood to include attraction to one's own sex or gender and at least one other sex or gender.

2. the state of being sexually attracted to people of more than one gender, sometimes understood to include attraction to one's own sex or gender and at least one other sex or gender.

3. Biology.

   1. (of a species) having two distinct sexes.

      In these plants, bisexuality recently evolved from an ancestral unisexual condition.

   2. having both male and female sexual organs present in one individual.

      Bisexuality occurs in about 50% of the red sea bream's juvenile population.

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bisexuality Cultural  

1. Sexual activity with, or sexual attraction to, members of both sexes.

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Usage

Does bisexuality involve attraction to only two genders? See bisexual.

Etymology

Origin of bisexuality

First recorded in 1840–50 bisexuality for def. 3, and in 1890–95 bisexuality for defs. 1, 2; bi- ¹ ( def. ) + sexuality ( def. ); from German Bisexualität bisexuality for defs. 1, 2

Example Sentences

This is the first visual confirmation of Peacemaker’s bisexuality, which Gunn has confirmed, crediting Cena for inspiring that character profile addition.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2025

For fans, that might have seemed like big news, but the truth was her bisexuality was something she’d known about herself for a while.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2024

“We should welcome more studies of bisexuality and homosexuality. … This is partly a biological question, so we should understand it.”

From Science Magazine • Jan. 2, 2024

Baek's highly-rated 2021 drama Mine featured a love story between two women, the first depiction of bisexuality on Korean TV - it was well-received, despite some angry letters.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2023

In some animals, such as some worms, there is a bisexuality of the individual.

From The Glands Regulating Personality by Berman, Louis, M.D.