English · Word Candidate

sexuality

/sɛk.ʃuːˈæ.lɪ.ti/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sexualities

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The quality of being sexual; that which is characterized or distinguished by sex.

Noun

Examples

Sexuality, then, is related to both biological sex and gender, and simultaneously is quite distinct from them. […] We employ sexuality to refer to all kinds of sexual relations, including sexual activities, eroticism, sexual identities, sexual meanings, and sexual politics.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The quality of being sexual; that which is characterized or distinguished by sex. — Sexual activity; concern with, or interest in, sexual activity.

Noun

Examples

[W]hen adults with mild mental retardation are allowed to express their sexuality in appropriate ways, they are, in general, competent in terms of biological capability, sexual desire, and the psychological significance they attribute to sexual behavior[…]. However, they typically lack basic informa

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sexuality” mean?

The quality of being sexual; that which is characterized or distinguished by sex.

Is “sexuality” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.