psychosexual

adjective

psy·​cho·​sex·​u·​al ˌsī-kō-ˈsek-shə-wəl How to pronounce psychosexual (audio)
-shwəl
-shəl
1
: of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development
2
: of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity
3
: of or relating to the physiological psychology of sex
psychosexually adverb

Examples of psychosexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film follows the complex psychosexual bond between a pop singer (Anne Hathaway) and a fashion designer (Michaela Coel), which reignites when the former needs a dress for her comeback tour. Ben Rosenstock, Time, 26 Dec. 2025 Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott star in this wild psychosexual thriller, which finds a dominatrix and a young heir engaging in a battle of wills over one night in a hotel room. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025 The clip, coming on the heels of last month’s teaser, positions Harper on a collision course with Yasmin (Marisa Abela), as the two frenemies find themselves on opposite aisles of power plays and psychosexual mind games. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2025 Anderson breezes through monumental shifts from there — Perfidia’s deepening romantic relationship with Pat, her subsequent pregnancy and postpartum depression, the beginnings of a psychosexual dynamic with Lockjaw, the downfall of the French 75, and the splintering of the lives associated with it. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for psychosexual

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychosexual was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Psychosexual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychosexual. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.

Medical Definition

psychosexual

adjective
psy·​cho·​sex·​u·​al ˌsī-kō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl How to pronounce psychosexual (audio)
1
: of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development
2
: of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity
3
: of or relating to the psychophysiology of sex
psychosexually adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!