From Latin sexuālis, from sexus, equivalent to ; see sex.

• (America) IPA: /ˈsɛkʃuəl/
• (RP) IPA: /ˈsɛkʃuəl/, /ˈsɛksjuəl/

sexual

1. Arising from the fact of being male or female; pertaining to sex or gender, or to the social relations between the sexes. [from 17th c.]

   Women face sexual discrimination in the workplace.

2. (biology) Capable of sexual reproduction; sexed, sexuate. [from 19th c.]
3. Pertaining to sexual intercourse or other intimate physical contact. [from 18th c.]

   Giving oral sex is my favorite sexual act.

4. Characterised by sexual feelings or behaviour; possessing sexuality. [from 19th c.]

   She's a very sexual woman.

5. Pertaining to sexuality as a cultural phenomenon; relating to sexual behaviour or conduct. [from 19th c.]

   a sexual innuendo

   one's sexual preferences

6. (LGBT, of a, person, rare) Experiencing sexual attraction; not asexual.

   Synonyms: allosexual

7. (obsolete) Pertaining to the female sex. [17th–19th c.]

   Synonyms: feminine

   • 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Observations on the State of Degradation to which Woman is Reduced by Various Causes”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC ↗, page 112 ↗:

     [T]he inquiry is whether she have reason or not. If she have, which, for a moment, I will take for granted, she was not created merely to be the solace of man, and the sexual should not destroy the human character.

• sex

• French: sexuel
• Italian: sessuale
• Portuguese: sexual
• Russian: полово́й
• Spanish: sexual

• Portuguese: sexuado
• Russian: полово́й

• Portuguese: sexual
• Russian: полово́й

• Portuguese: sexual
• Russian: сексуа́льный

sexual (plural sexuals)

1. (biology) A species which reproduces by sexual rather than asexual reproduction, or a member of such a species.

   Antonyms: asexual

2. (LGBT) A person who experiences sexual attraction, a person who has interest in or desire for sex (especially as contrasted with an asexual).

   Synonyms: allosexual

   Antonyms: asexual