sexuality
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being sexual
-
preoccupation with or involvement in sexual matters
-
the possession of sexual potency
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sexuality
Explanation
The noun sexuality can refer to sexual matters of all kinds. It often describes having sexual feelings. A novel about a teenager growing up may examine the awakening sexuality of its main character. Sexuality also describes a person's sexual preferences and orientation — meaning whether you're gay or straight. Sexuality can refer to erotic experiences, but it can also be used broadly to refer to how organisms — whether human or animal — reproduce. There are scientists who exclusively study sexuality, from the mating habits of animals to the peculiarities of how humans pair up.
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.
See Examples For:
In those solo presentations, Usha Seejarim’s conceptual sculptures and wall works examined gender and sexuality through repurposed objects, and Mmangaliso Nzuza’s biographical paintings infused Western art history with African trends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
There are fears those who are not open about their sexuality, or are still too ashamed to admit what happened to them, could miss out on up to £70,000 and other support.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Given the group’s commitment to costumed stage personas, the mixed sexuality of their members, and their name, the Village People came to represent the confluence of masculinity and queerness.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
It got to be too much, he’d explain later, continuing to hustle to keep his baseball career afloat while keeping his sexuality secret, acutely aware of the blowback he’d get if it got out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
That was the day Aech had finally come out to her mother about her sexuality.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
If Americans have learned anything from the past few years, rational, unhinged, unethical, and deceitful are characteristics that come in all ethnicities, genders, and sexualities.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2024
The individuals interviewed for the study represented a broad range of education levels, occupations, sexualities, and racial and ethnic backgrounds.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2023
Gypsy Sport castings and fashion shows became — and remain — legendary, cherry picking models from a diversity of sexualities, genders, ethnicities, walks of life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2023
The Progress Pride Rainbow Flag Families flashcards “celebrate LGBT2SQ+ Families of diverse races, ages, sexualities, genders, and abilities,” according to the online store ByUS Box.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 1, 2022
Moreover, a man counts no more than a woman in their sum total of daily pleasure, and when they choose a comrade it is for human qualities, not sexualities.
From Seven Miles to Arden by Sawyer, Ruth
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.
