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single-sex

American  
[sing-guhl-seks] / ˈsɪŋ gəlˌsɛks /

adjective

  1. designated for, pertaining to, or serving only males or only females.

    a single-sex college.


single-sex British  

adjective

  1. (of schools, etc) admitting members of one sex only; not coeducational

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of single-sex

First recorded in 1935–40

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:

Sightings of Swift and Kelce gathering separately in single-sex groups have prompted major speculation about the stars’ respective bachelor and bachelorette parties.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 23, 2026

A charity has won a Court of Appeal bid to continue a legal challenge over rules allowing trans people to use the single-sex facilities at Hampstead Heath's swimming ponds.

From BBC Mar. 17, 2026

Ministers accepted the outcome of the ruling and updated guidance on single-sex spaces.

From BBC Feb. 10, 2026

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the government will take the time needed to get guidance right on use of single-sex spaceby trans people.

From BBC Nov. 20, 2025

“Studies show that in single-sex schools, girls take more nontraditional courses like advanced science. They worry less about how they look, they’re more competitive, and they have higher self-esteem.”

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

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