psychosexual

adjective

psy·​cho·​sex·​u·​al ˌsī-kō-ˈsek-shə-wəl 

-shwəl,

-shəl

1

: of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development

2

: of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity

3

: of or relating to the physiological psychology of sex

psychosexually adverb

Examples of psychosexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In turn, The Comfort of Strangers is a defiantly odd film, one that presents a respectable veneer only to shed it in favor of psychosexual gamesmanship. —Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025

The novel is a gothic, psychosexual thriller in the vein of Rebecca and Gone Girl. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024

Soon after, Alice begins to take a disturbing psychosexual interest in Nick. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Here, the location becomes increasingly fog-laden and soggy as this sci-fi comedy wends toward apocalyptic, psychosexual mayhem. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

psychosexual

adjective

psy·​cho·​sex·​u·​al ˌsī-kō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl 

1

: of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development

2

: of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity

3

: of or relating to the psychophysiology of sex

psychosexually

-ē 

adverb