sext

1 of 3

verb

sexted; sexting; sexts

transitive + intransitive

: to send someone a sexually explicit message or image by cell phone : to engage in sexting
He feigns deep concern and sympathy for a young woman who sexted a selfie to a boyfriend who, in turn, broke up with her and distributed the photo on the Internet.David Wiegand
Some kids use their phones to bully students or to sext or make inappropriate phone calls.Daniel Domenech

sext

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural sexts
: a sexually explicit message or image sent by cell phone
Many kids who send sexts say they meant to play a joke, and often the kid in the photo was in on it.Emily Bazelon

sext

3 of 3

noun (2)

often capitalized
: the fourth of the canonical hours

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Most importantly, though, the ending raises a key question: Is Keith willing to sext his own dad, for cOmEdY? Sean Malin, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2021

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English sexte, from Late Latin sexta, from Latin, sixth hour of the day, from feminine of sextus sixth, from sex six

First Known Use

Verb

2007, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

2001, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sext was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sext

Cite this Entry

“Sext.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sext. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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