asexual

adjective asex·u·al \ (ˌ)ā-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl , -shü-əl , -ˈsek-shəl \

Definition of asexual

1 : lacking sex or functional sex organs

asexual plants

2 a : involving or reproducing by reproductive processes (such as cell division, spore formation, fission (see ¹fission 2), or budding (see ²bud intransitive 3)) that do not involve the union of individuals or gametes

asexual reproduction

an asexual generation

b : produced by asexual reproduction

asexual spores

3 a : not involving, involved with, or relating to sex : devoid of sexuality

an asexual relationship

b : not having sexual feelings toward others : not experiencing sexual desire or attraction

In general, an asexual person does not feel or otherwise experience any sexual attraction, according to The Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN). Basically, it is an inborn absence of sexual desire.
—Lindsay E. Mack

4 : not having or showing a particular sexual identity : neither male nor female

… parents who first encounter the world of Pokemon through their youngsters may have no idea what this land of soft, rounded, asexual creatures is or what drives it.
—Vince Horiuchi

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asexual

noun, plural asexuals

- Many asexuals still have romantic attractions—identifying themselves as straight, gay or bisexual romantic—form committed relationships and value all the non-sexual benefits of a partnership that sexual individuals enjoy. Minus the sex.
- —Lori A. Brotto

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asexuality

play \ˌā-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē, -shü-ˈa-\ noun

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asexually

play \(ˌ)ā-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wə-lē, -shü-ə-, -ˌsek-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

See asexual defined for English-language learners

See asexual defined for kids

Examples of asexual in a Sentence

They had a completely asexual relationship.

Recent Examples of asexual from the Web

In Wright’s play, a naive but well-meaning scientist stumbles across a new kind of grass seed which needs no pesticides, almost no mowing, and is capable of asexual reproduction.

— brendan kiley, The Seattle Times, "Revenge of the lawn: ‘Greensward’ at 12th Ave Arts," 13 July 2017
People who identify as sapiosexual may also identify as gay, straight, bisexual, asexual or something else.

— anna north, New York Times, "The Hottest Body Part? For a Sapiosexual, It’s the Brain," 2 June 2017
Scientists have long known that female cockroaches, like many other species, can give birth through parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction in which the females produce eggs without male participation.

— peter landers, WSJ, "New Clues on Why You Can’t Escape Cockroaches," 20 Mar. 2017
Enter Monica Saccucci, an Ohio State undergraduate, who knew from previous research that asexual snails with extra genome copies regrow missing body parts significantly faster.

— National Geographic, "Who Needs Males? Self-Cloning Females Heal Faster," 10 May 2016
A queer book featuring an asexual protagonist dealing with the pressures of internet fame and relationships?

— judith utz, Teen Vogue, "Best Queer Books to Celebrate Pride 2017," 20 June 2017
Asexual: A person who experiences no sexual attraction to other people.

— alia e. dastagir, USA TODAY, "LGBTQ definitions every good ally should know," 15 June 2017
This is a form of asexual reproduction where the original worm grows a second worm attached to its tail, Human Centipede-style, and eventually the new worm splits off.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "When flatworms go to space, they grow two heads," 13 June 2017
Last year, it was revealed in the Archie comic books that Jughead is asexual and Cole was pretty eager to have that aspect of the story portrayed on screen.

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "Cole Sprouse on Whether Jughead Should Be "Asexual" or End Up With Betty on "Riverdale"," 12 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'asexual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of asexual

see sexual

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1796

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

ASEXUAL Defined for English Language Learners

asexual

adjective

Definition of asexual for English Language Learners

: not having or including sex
: of or relating to a kind of reproduction that does not involve the combining of male and female cells

ASEXUAL Defined for Kids

asexual

adjective asex·u·al \ ˈā-ˈsek-shə-wəl \

Definition of asexual for Students

: formed by, characterized by, or being a process of reproduction (as the dividing of one cell into two cells) that does not involve the combining of male and female germ cells

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