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
Eliza Berman2
: 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
Courtney CiandellaExamples of sexuality in a Sentence
She is comfortable with her sexuality.
a study of male sexuality
Recent Examples on the Web
For a more tolerant society, the time to introduce differences of all kinds, including sexuality, is the early years.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Hovde’s campaign also ran a slew of TV ads drawing attention to Baldwin’s sexuality, repeatedly mentioning her girlfriend, Maria Brisbane.
—Sarah Prager, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Wiley’s art, both in its subject matter and in its process, has always intertwined sexuality and power dynamics.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Her latest tells the story of four filmmaker friends persecuted by the authorities for their sexuality in 1950s communist Yugoslavia.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sexuality 
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Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Hovde’s campaign also ran a slew of TV ads drawing attention to Baldwin’s sexuality, repeatedly mentioning her girlfriend, Maria Brisbane.
—Sarah Prager, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Wiley’s art, both in its subject matter and in its process, has always intertwined sexuality and power dynamics.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Her latest tells the story of four filmmaker friends persecuted by the authorities for their sexuality in 1950s communist Yugoslavia.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sexuality
Dictionary Entries Near sexuality
Cite this Entry
“Sexuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexuality. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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