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

Examples of nonsexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That body, established in 2017 in response to the crimes of Larry Nassar, the Michigan physician who serially abused young gymnasts, can investigate misconduct, including nonsexual misconduct, in any Olympic sport. — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

MacInnes later disputed that account, describing the incident as a nonsexual response to a medical episode. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026

The Humanizing and Uniting Generations Safely (HUGS) Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, D-Los Angeles, would allow for more nonsexual physical contact between adults locked up in California prisoners and their visitors. — Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026

In a nonsexual example posted Sunday, a user prompted Grok to insert a swastika onto an image of a surrealist, crying face. — Ben Goggin, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for nonsexual

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

Medical Definition

nonsexual

adjective

non·​sex·​u·​al (ˈ)nän-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl 

: not sexual

nonsexual reproduction