WordGarden.iosexuality
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɛkʃuːˈælɪti/
US
- /ˌsɛkʃuˈæləti/
Meanings
Noun
a person's sexual identity, orientation, desire, or capacity for sexual feelings
the sexual character, appeal, or expression of a person, work, or situation
the biological condition or function of being sexual
Beyond the definition
Sexuality is not just about sex itself. It is the personal mix of who someone is attracted to, the sexual feelings they have, and how they understand this part of themselves. It is a natural part of being human and can be shaped by the body, the mind, culture, and life experience. For example, a person may feel attraction to men, women, both, neither, or people of any gender.
People often talk about sexuality in relationships, but it belongs to each person whether they are in a relationship or not. Everyone experiences and expresses it in their own way. You may also hear the phrase "sexual orientation," which means who a person is attracted to, but sexuality is broader than orientation alone.
Sexuality is a broad part of human life that includes sexual desire, attraction, behavior, and identity. It is not only about who a person is physically attracted to. It is also connected to emotions, thoughts, relationships, social life, and culture. It can shape how people think about intimacy, how they express this side of themselves, and how they understand their place in relation to others.
In the past, people often spoke about sexuality in limited or judgmental ways, but there is now wider awareness of its many forms. This includes different sexual orientations, such as heterosexual (attraction to a different gender), homosexual, gay, or lesbian (attraction to the same gender), bisexual (attraction to more than one gender), pansexual (attraction regardless of gender), and asexual (feeling little or no sexual attraction), among others.
However, sexuality is not only about orientation. It can also include sex drive, romantic attraction, fantasies, personal values about intimacy, and how comfortable someone feels with their own body. For some people, it stays quite stable. For others, it can change over time.
You may hear the word in many contexts: in psychology when talking about identity, in health when discussing sexual well-being, or in education and social debate when people talk about relationships, norms, and personal rights. Because it is deeply personal, conversations about sexuality are best approached with respect and care. For example, someone might talk about their sexuality, read about the history of sexuality, or discuss sexuality education in school.
Examples
- 1
Family conversation
She was not ready to talk about her sexuality with her family.
- 2
Education
The course covers relationships, consent, and sexuality.
- 3
Coming of age
The novel explores sexuality as part of growing up.
- 4
Privacy
Questions about a public figure's sexuality can be deeply invasive.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Cultural attitudes
Attitudes toward sexuality vary widely across cultures.
- 6
Support group
The group offers support for people of all genders and sexualities.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sexualitynoun
Forms
- sexualitiespluralnoun