pansexual
Americanadjective
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Also
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noting or relating to a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of any gender or to people regardless of their gender.
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expressing sexuality in all its forms, or involving sexual activity with people of any gender or with people regardless of their gender.
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Psychiatry. pertaining to the theory that all human behavior is based on sexuality.
noun
Usage
What does pansexual mean? Pansexual refers to someone who is romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to people of any gender or regardless of their gender. Some pansexual people may say that, when it comes to attraction, they don't see gender or they find it irrelevant. That's what distinguishes pansexuality from omnisexuality or bisexuality.
Commonly Confused
What's the difference between pansexual, bisexual, and omnisexual? See bisexual ( def. ).
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pansexual
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These obstructions don’t pop up specifically because we’re straight or gay or queer or open or pansexual or asexual or ethically nonmonogamous, but because we’re human.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Starring John Barrowman and Eve Myles, the show has been praised for its queer representation, with pansexual character Jack, played by Barrowman, shown in a relationship with Ianto on primetime national television.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
In 2019, she came out as bisexual and pansexual.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026
Glenn, who identifies as pansexual and bisexual, took issue with those who questioned the legitimacy of athletes voicing their opinions.
From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026
I guess there’s pansexual, but that feels too broad at this point.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
