bisexual

adjective bi·sex·u·al \ (ˌ)bī-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl , -shəl \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of bisexual

1 a : possessing characters of both sexes and especially both male and female reproductive structures : hermaphroditic

bisexual flowers

b : of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to members of both sexes; also : engaging in sexual activity with partners of more than one gender

2 : of, relating to, or involving both sexes

bisexual reproduction

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bisexual

noun

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bisexuality

play \ˌbī-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē\ noun

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bisexually

play \(ˌ)bī-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wə-lē, -sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

See bisexual defined for English-language learners

See bisexual defined for kids

Recent Examples of bisexual from the Web

Most were focused on the lesbian, gay, and bisexual part of the acronym, said Jeremy Goldbach, an associate professor of social work at the University of Southern California who specializes in LGBT issues.

— mark thiessen, The Christian Science Monitor, "Anchorage takes historic step toward challenging bathroom bills," 12 Apr. 2018
Season 2’s Frenchie Davis and season 9’s runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, both identify as bisexual.

— brian anthony hernandez, Billboard, "'American Idol': How the Show's Inclusive New Season Reflects the Country's Progress on LGBTQ Rights," 1 Apr. 2018
Now his father, Matt Leach, says the bullying Andy was subjected to at school intensified after his son came out as bisexual during a confrontation with his bullies.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "12-year-old who took his own life was bullied for being bisexual, his dad says | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 13 Mar. 2018
And as with his fictionalized counterpart, the real Armstrong-Jones, also known as Lord Snowdon, is believed to have been bisexual.

— NBC News, "'The Crown': Was Princess Margaret's life really full of scandal?," 27 Jan. 2018
Students of color, students with disabilities, and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender feel less safe and supported at school than their peers, according to a new state analysis of student survey data.

— rory linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Survey: Minority, LGBTQ students feel less safe in Wisconsin schools," 23 Mar. 2018
The second reference there, for the uninitiated, is to Nixon, who has identified as bisexual and is married to a woman.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "New York's Nixon-Cuomo primary is shaping up to be a blockbuster," 21 Mar. 2018
This leaked to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which quickly mobilized to oppose Nowakowski.

— jessica boehm, azcentral, "LGBT community's uproar derails Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski's bid for vice mayor," 21 Mar. 2018
This new side to Cheryl certainly creates the possibility of a romance between herself and the first person she’s opened up to in a while, Toni, who is proudly bisexual.

— ariana romero, refinery29.com, "Cheryl Blossom's Coming Out Is Riverdale At Its Best," 8 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of bisexual

1793

BISEXUAL Defined for English Language Learners

bisexual

adjective

Definition of bisexual for English Language Learners

: sexually attracted to both men and women
: having both male and female sex parts
: relating to or involving two sexes

Medical Dictionary

bisexual

adjective bi·sex·u·al \ (ˈ)bī-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl \

medical Definition of bisexual

1 a : possessing characters of both sexes and especially both male and female reproductive structures : hermaphroditic

b : of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to be sexually atttracted toward individuals of both sexes : engaging in sexual activity with partners of either sex

2 : of, relating to, or involving two sexes