nonsexual
adjective
non·sex·u·al
ˌnän-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl 
1
: not involving sex or sexual activity
a nonsexual relationship
nonsexual contact
2
: not relating to or associated with sex or the sexes
While the Y chromosome contains the genes that determine maleness and some other nonsexual characteristics, it contains fewer genes than the X chromosome.—
Faith Hickman Brynie
Faith Hickman Brynie
Examples of nonsexual in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s some nonsexual nudity, including brief full frontals, set in a virtual world.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
According to a 2018 study published in the science journal PLOS One, nonsexual interpersonal touch between friends, such as receiving hugs, was shown to reduce stress and serve as an effective buffer while experiencing hardship.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023
These same connections have recently been shown to shape nonsexual social connections in lab mice, and the new results suggest some common mechanisms of social attachments across both species and categories of bonds.
—Steven Phelps, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2023
According to research papers and reports from global health authorities, cases of nonsexual transmission are uncommon to rare.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022
That conduct amounted to nonsexual emails to a female subordinate that alluded to friendship and longing.
—Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022
Nearly all of us contract a herpesvirus during our lives, via nonsexual spread.
—Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022
Only 3% of cases in the study likely derived from nonsexual household contact, Mitjà said.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2022
Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
According to a 2018 study published in the science journal PLOS One, nonsexual interpersonal touch between friends, such as receiving hugs, was shown to reduce stress and serve as an effective buffer while experiencing hardship.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023
These same connections have recently been shown to shape nonsexual social connections in lab mice, and the new results suggest some common mechanisms of social attachments across both species and categories of bonds.
—Steven Phelps, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2023
According to research papers and reports from global health authorities, cases of nonsexual transmission are uncommon to rare.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022
That conduct amounted to nonsexual emails to a female subordinate that alluded to friendship and longing.
—Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022
Nearly all of us contract a herpesvirus during our lives, via nonsexual spread.
—Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022
Only 3% of cases in the study likely derived from nonsexual household contact, Mitjà said.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonsexual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1839, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near nonsexual
Cite this Entry
“Nonsexual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonsexual. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
nonsexual
adjective
non·sex·u·al
(ˈ)nän-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl
: not sexual
nonsexual reproduction
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