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
The late twenties also saw the onset in America of the Great Depression, and, at least as far as entertainment is concerned, many scholars link displays of sexuality and queerness in films in the late 1920s and early 1930s to a larger crisis in masculinity.
—Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
More than 270 photographs show expressions of gender and sexuality across two centuries.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Thankfully, my husband can be kind to him while disapproving of his sexuality.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
His experience in the cemetery that day has now become inextricably intertwined with his own burgeoning sexuality, just as his and Wilder’s sweat became one in the shirt that led to this moment.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sexuality
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Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
More than 270 photographs show expressions of gender and sexuality across two centuries.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Thankfully, my husband can be kind to him while disapproving of his sexuality.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
His experience in the cemetery that day has now become inextricably intertwined with his own burgeoning sexuality, just as his and Wilder’s sweat became one in the shirt that led to this moment.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 17 June 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 8 Jul. 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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