demisexual

[dem-ee-sek-shoo-uhl]

adjective

1. noting or relating to a person who is sexually attracted only to people with whom they already have an emotional bond.

noun

1. a person who is sexually attracted only to people with whom they already have an emotional bond.

Word History and Origins

Origin of demisexual¹

First recorded in 2005–10; demi- ( def. ) + sexual ( def. )

Example Sentences

Earlier in the series, Tulisa shared with her campmates that she identified as being demisexual and needing "to have a really close emotional bond with someone" before she finds them sexually attractive.

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My labels are demisexual and sapiosexual, or some combination of the two, which makes being attracted to someone when there is no intellectual or emotional spark improbable, if not impossible.

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I'm A Celeb's Tulisa Contostavlos has told her campmates she's demisexual and has abstained from sex for more than three years.

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Her description of herself as demisexual got a lot of viewers wondering what the term "demisexual" means.

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Howell said she was demisexual, meaning she only feels attracted to someone after she forms a strong emotional bond with them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times