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

Would the audience member’s sexuality affect the experience, turning it from something exhilarating into something threatening? — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Hollywood actor Luke Evans rejects idea that sexuality should dictate politics. — FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

And there will always be gay kids coming to terms with their nascent sexuality — like Clive’s 16-year-old son George (Jackson Connor), whose interactions with Leo draw his father’s suspicion and ire. — Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Lawson has withstood a decades-long vivisection of her body and sexuality. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sexuality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

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