intersexual

1 of 2

adjective

in·​ter·​sex·​u·​al ˌin-tər-ˈsek-shə-wəl 

-shwəl, 

-shəl

1

: existing between sexes

intersexual hostility

2

: intersex

intersexual individuals

intersexually

ˌin-tər-ˈsek-shə-wə-lē 

-shwə-lē, 

-shə-lē

adverb

intersexuality

2 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌin-tər-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

: the condition (such as that occurring in congenital adrenal hyperplasia or androgen insensitivity syndrome) of either having both male and female gonadal tissue in one individual or of having the gonads of one sex and external genitalia that is of the other sex or is ambiguous

Intersexuality, in a variety of forms, occurs in about one of every 2,000 births—about the same proportion as cystic fibrosis.

—Emily Nussbaum

Examples of intersexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Charles Darwin also proposed that intersexual selection involved females evaluating and choosing males with whom to mate based on specific traits, such as a colorful peacock plumage. — Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026

Noun

Now a lecturer at Stellenbosch University in Capetown, Mtshawu says there are many misconceptions about intersexuality. — Aisha Salaudeen, CNN, 21 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

inter- + sexual; (sense 2) after German intersexuell

Note: See notes at intersex entry 1 and intersexuality.

Noun

borrowed from German Intersexualität, from intersexuell intersexual + -ität -ity

Note: Intersexualität was introduced by the German biologist Richard Goldschmidt (1878-1958) in "Vorläufige Mitteilung über weitere Versuche zur Vererbung und Bestimmung des Geschlechts," Biologisches Centralblatt, 53. Band, No. 12 (20. Dezember 1915) pp. 565-70. In the English translation of Goldschmidt's article (see note at intersex entry 1) the German word is translated as intersexualism.

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intersexual

• biofuel
• contextual
• nonrenewal
• nonsexual
• unusual
• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• cruel
• dual
• duel

Medical Definition

intersexual

1 of 2 adjective

in·​ter·​sex·​u·​al

ˌint-ər-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl

1

: existing between sexes

intersexual hostility

2

: intersex

intersexually

-ˈseksh-(ə-)wə-lē, -(ə-)lē

adverb

intersexual

2 of 2 noun

: an individual exhibiting intersexuality