sexual
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words relate to physical or romantic connection, but they differ in scope and connotation. 'Sexual' is the broadest and most clinical term, covering any aspect of physical sex, desire, and behaviour — used in law, education, and medicine. 'Erotic' narrows the focus to the arousal of sexual desire, often in art, literature, or fantasy, and carries a more subjective, emotional tone. 'Intimate' is the gentlest of the group, emphasising emotional closeness and private connection; it may or may not include physical sexuality depending on the context ('an intimate conversation' is non-sexual, while 'an intimate encounter' may be). 'Sensual' highlights pleasure derived from the senses — touch, taste, smell — and is not limited to sexual contexts; a sensual meal or a sensual massage can be completely non-sexual. Choose 'sexual' when you need precision and formality, 'erotic' for deliberately arousing content, 'intimate' for private emotional bonds, and 'sensual' for physical pleasure broadly.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- sexually
Phrases
- sexual orientation
Etymology
The word 'sexual' comes from the Latin adjective 'sexualis,' meaning 'relating to sex,' which was formed from 'sexus' ('sex' or 'gender'). It entered English in the early 17th century through French ('sexuel'), initially used mostly in biological and legal writing. Over time its meaning broadened to cover human behaviour, attraction, and identity.