sexuality

noun

sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being sexual: such as

a

: sexual reproduction (see reproduction sense 1)

b

: sexual activity

c

: expression of sexual receptivity or interest

High school can be confusing, and grappling with one's burgeoning sexuality, even more so.

—Eliza Berman

2

: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, straight, gay, pansexual, etc. : sexual orientation

… the TV star told fans that she was "interested in both men and women" after a fan questioned her sexuality.

—Courtney Ciandella

Examples of sexuality in a Sentence

She is comfortable with her sexuality.

a study of male sexuality

Recent Examples on the Web

And as far as Yuri, this is the person through whom [Kitty] discovers a new aspect of her sexuality. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 18 Jan. 2025

Catholic natural-law fantasies about the proper ordering of sexuality, reproductive rights, gender roles, the natural family and religious freedom now command the heights of American law and politics. —Peter H. Schwartz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

And while gay readers will be well acquainted with those exhilarations, Betancourt looks to mount a more sweeping argument against the tyrannies of normative sexuality, insisting throughout that friendship and flirtation might be as spiritually affirmative as monogamy. —Jake Nevins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

And hormones regulate absolutely everything in our body: weight, sleep, energy, hunger, sexuality, mental agility, muscle function... —Ana Morales, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sexuality

noun

sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being sexual

Medical Definition

sexuality

noun

sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

plural sexualities

1

: the quality or state of being sexual:

a

biology : the condition of having sex (see sex entry 1 sense 1a)

b

: sexual activity

c

: expression of sexual receptivity or interest

2

: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, heterosexual, gay, etc. : sexual orientation