sexuality

sexuality — noun

1. The part of a person's nature that relates to having and expressing sexual feeli

1.nounB2
Definition

The part of a person's nature that relates to having and expressing sexual feelings, desires, and physical responses.

Example

Olivia felt confused about her own sexuality during her teenage years.

uncountable noun used with possessive

After her divorce at forty, Ingrid noticed her sexuality had shifted in unexpected ways.

Common collocations
  • human sexuality
  • female sexuality
  • male sexuality
  • explore one's sexuality
  • affect one's sexuality
  • shape someone's sexuality
Synonyms
  • sexual nature

    More formal; emphasizes inherent quality rather than experience

  • libido

    Narrower; focuses on the biological urge or drive for sex

  • sensuality

    Broader; can include non-sexual physical pleasure such as touch or taste

Antonyms
  • asexuality

    The state of experiencing little or no sexual attraction

Grammar Patterns

someone's sexuality

sexuality + verb

Usage Note

Often used with a possessive determiner (her sexuality, their sexuality) or as an uncountable noun. This sense covers the broadest range of meaning and can overlap with the other senses — context determines which shade is intended.

Common Mistakes

Her sexuality was interrupted when the children came home.
Her sexual encounter was interrupted when the children came home.
'sexuality' refers to a person's capacity for sexual feelings, not a specific sexual act.
The doctor asked about my sexuality' (when meaning 'sex life').
The doctor asked about my sex life.
'sexuality' is about orientation and capacity, while 'sex life' refers to actual sexual activity.

2. The way a person shows or communicates their sexual feelings through behaviour,

2.nounC1
Definition

The way a person shows or communicates their sexual feelings through behaviour, appearance, language, or choices.

Example

Hassan felt uncomfortable with how the advertisement used sexuality to sell perfume.

collocation: use sexuality to [purpose]

Lotte expresses her sexuality through bright clothing and her confident way of speaking.

Common collocations
  • express one's sexuality
  • use sexuality
  • exploit sexuality
  • show one's sexuality
  • display sexuality
Synonyms
  • sexual expression

    More deliberate and active; emphasizes the act of showing

  • sexual display

    Suggests performance or showing off; can be negative in tone

  • eroticism

    More artistic or literary register; focuses on arousing quality

Grammar Patterns

someone's sexuality

express + someone's sexuality

Usage Note

Frequently carries a judgemental tone — describing something as 'using' or 'exploiting' sexuality implies criticism. Neutral expressions include 'expressing' or 'showing' one's sexuality.

Common Mistakes

His sexuality was very loud at the party' (vague).
He expressed his sexuality boldly at the party through his outfit and dance moves.
be specific about how the sexuality is being shown rather than treating 'sexuality' as an abstract quality that can be 'loud.'

3. The pattern of a person's romantic or physical attraction toward individuals of

3.nounB2
Definition

The pattern of a person's romantic or physical attraction toward individuals of one gender, multiple genders, or no gender — for example, being attracted to men, women, both, or neither.

Example

Otis talked to his parents about his sexuality when he was sixteen years old.

collocation: talk about/discuss one's sexuality

The school set up a support group for students who are questioning their sexuality.

collocation: question one's sexuality

Common collocations
  • someone's sexuality
  • question one's sexuality
  • accept one's sexuality
  • come to terms with one's sexuality
  • disclose one's sexuality
Synonyms
  • sexual orientation

    More formal and clinical; preferred in official forms and research

  • sexual identity

    Broader; may include how a person labels themselves culturally or politically

  • orientation

    Shortened form; common in informal conversation among younger speakers

Grammar Patterns

someone's sexuality

question + someone's sexuality

accept + someone's sexuality

Usage Note

In modern usage, this sense overlaps significantly with the term 'sexual orientation'. 'Sexuality' is the more conversational term, while 'sexual orientation' tends to appear in formal, clinical, or legal contexts.

Common Mistakes

He changed his sexuality when he transitioned.
His gender identity changed when he transitioned; his sexuality stayed the same.
'sexuality' (sense 3) refers to who you are attracted to, not your own gender.
My sexuality is non-binary.
My gender is non-binary. My sexuality is pansexual.
'sexuality' describes attraction patterns toward others, not your own gender identity.

4. People who share a particular pattern of romantic or physical attraction, consid

4.nounC1
Definition

People who share a particular pattern of romantic or physical attraction, considered as a social or political group rather than as individuals.

Example

The Manila Diversity Forum brought together activists and scholars of every sexuality and gender identity.

collective reference: people of every sexuality

Arjun's study in Mumbai examined how sexuality affects hiring at IT firms in India.

Common collocations
  • people of all sexuality
  • diverse sexuality
  • forms of sexuality
  • representation of sexuality
  • rights of every sexuality
Synonyms
  • sexual community

    Emphasizes shared social bonds and culture rather than just attraction patterns

  • sexuality group

    More neutral; appears in social science writing

Grammar Patterns

people of all/every sexuality

diverse sexuality

forms of sexuality

Usage Note

Used when referring to communities or populations rather than individual identities. Common in discussions about legal rights, media representation, and social inclusion. Unlike sense 3, this sense treats sexuality as a demographic category.

Common Mistakes

People of every sexuality should be respected' (ambiguous — could mean sense 3 or 4).
People of every sexuality deserve equal legal protection.
when discussing group rights, the context makes the collective meaning clear.

Word family

  • sexual
    adjectiveB1
  • sexually
    adverbB2
  • sexualize
    verbC1
  • sexualization
    nounC1
  • asexual
    adjectiveC1
  • bisexual
    adjectiveB2
  • heterosexual
    adjectiveB2
  • homosexual
    adjectiveB2
  • pansexual
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

The four terms overlap in daily conversation but carry different weights. 'Sexual orientation' is the most formal and precise term, used in legal documents, medical forms, and academic research — it refers strictly to the gender(s) a person is attracted to. 'Sexuality' (sense 3 of this entry) covers the same ground but feels more personal and less clinical; a teenager might say 'I'm figuring out my sexuality,' while a doctor's form asks for 'sexual orientation.' 'Sexual identity' is broader: it includes the label a person chooses (gay, bi, pan, ace) and the cultural or political meaning attached to it. 'Preference' is increasingly avoided because it implies choice, which most researchers agree is not how attraction works. 'Orientation' by itself is a common casual shortening: 'What's your orientation?' avoids the full phrase while remaining clear in context. In academic or professional writing, use 'sexual orientation'; in everyday conversation, 'sexuality' or simply 'orientation' works well.

sexual orientationsexual identitypreference ↗orientation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in relation to sexuality
  • attitudes toward sexuality
  • the spectrum of sexuality

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'sexuality' was formed in English during the early 19th century by adding the noun suffix '-ity' to 'sexual', which itself comes from Latin 'sexualis', meaning 'relating to sex'. The Latin root 'sexus' originally meant 'sex' or 'gender'. The modern understanding of 'sexuality' as a personal identity category — distinct from biological sex — developed mainly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the work of psychologists and sexologists.