sexuality
noun
sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 
1
: the quality or state of being sexual: such as
a
: sexual reproduction (see reproduction sense 1)
b
: sexual activity
c
: expression of sexual receptivity or interest
High school can be confusing, and grappling with one's burgeoning sexuality, even more so.—
Eliza Berman
Eliza Berman2
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, straight, gay, pansexual, etc. : sexual orientation
… the TV star told fans that she was "interested in both men and women" after a fan questioned her sexuality.—Courtney Ciandella
Courtney CiandellaExamples of sexuality in a Sentence
She is comfortable with her sexuality.
a study of male sexuality
Recent Examples on the Web
Often, this is coming up around substance use or risky driving or sexuality in relationships.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
In a first-person essay published in Sports Illustrated in 2013, Collins wrote about his sexuality and became the first openly gay player in any of the four major North American men's professional sports leagues.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The number paid respects to Matthew Shepard, a gay man who was tortured and killed because of his sexuality in 1998.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
In an interview with The Sun on January 27, Coote came out as gay and said that the effects of hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sexuality
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Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
In a first-person essay published in Sports Illustrated in 2013, Collins wrote about his sexuality and became the first openly gay player in any of the four major North American men's professional sports leagues.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The number paid respects to Matthew Shepard, a gay man who was tortured and killed because of his sexuality in 1998.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
In an interview with The Sun on January 27, Coote came out as gay and said that the effects of hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sexuality
Cite this Entry
“Sexuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexuality. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sexuality
noun
sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being sexual
Medical Definition
sexuality
noun
sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē
plural sexualities
1
: the quality or state of being sexual:
a
biology
: the condition of having sex (see sex entry 1 sense 1a)
b
: sexual activity
c
: expression of sexual receptivity or interest
2
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, heterosexual, gay, etc. : sexual orientation
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