intersexuality

noun

in·​ter·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌin-tər-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

: the condition (such as that occurring in congenital adrenal hyperplasia or androgen insensitivity syndrome) of either having both male and female gonadal tissue in one individual or of having the gonads of one sex and external genitalia that is of the other sex or is ambiguous

Intersexuality, in a variety of forms, occurs in about one of every 2,000 births—about the same proportion as cystic fibrosis.

—Emily Nussbaum

Examples of intersexuality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Intersex persons are discriminated against because society does not have enough public information on intersexuality, says, Dr. David Segal. —Aisha Salaudeen, CNN, 21 Sep. 2019

Now a lecturer at Stellenbosch University in Capetown, Mtshawu says there are many misconceptions about intersexuality. —Aisha Salaudeen, CNN, 21 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Intersexualität, from intersexuell intersexual + -ität -ity

Note: Intersexualität was introduced by the German biologist Richard Goldschmidt (1878-1958) in "Vorläufige Mitteilung über weitere Versuche zur Vererbung und Bestimmung des Geschlechts," Biologisches Centralblatt, 53. Band, No. 12 (20. Dezember 1915) pp. 565-70. In the English translation of Goldschmidt's article (see note at intersex entry 1) the German word is translated as intersexualism.

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

intersexuality

noun

in·​ter·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty

-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē

plural intersexualities

: the condition (as that occurring in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity syndrome, or gonadal dysgenesis) of either having both male and female gonadal tissue in one individual or of having the gonads of one sex and external genitalia that is of the other sex or is ambiguous compare hermaphroditism, pseudohermaphroditism