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
Many parodied her overt sexuality by swapping her out for someone decidedly less sexy on the wrecking ball.
—Ben Pettis, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The Maryland Civil Rights Commission could mirror Colorado’s, bringing baseless cases against religious schools that refuse to acquiesce to mainstream culture, especially beliefs on sexuality and gender.
—Stephen Mitchell, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Herndon, who is gay, recounts in the memoir, per People, the struggle of coming to terms with his sexuality after a religious upbringing in a Southern Baptist Church.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Cross-dressing was prohibited, as were speeches that mocked or questioned the party’s prudish, pro-family, heteronormative views on gender and sexuality; traditional German culture was to be celebrated, not mocked.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sexuality
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Ben Pettis, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The Maryland Civil Rights Commission could mirror Colorado’s, bringing baseless cases against religious schools that refuse to acquiesce to mainstream culture, especially beliefs on sexuality and gender.
—Stephen Mitchell, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Herndon, who is gay, recounts in the memoir, per People, the struggle of coming to terms with his sexuality after a religious upbringing in a Southern Baptist Church.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Cross-dressing was prohibited, as were speeches that mocked or questioned the party’s prudish, pro-family, heteronormative views on gender and sexuality; traditional German culture was to be celebrated, not mocked.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sexuality
Cite this Entry
“Sexuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexuality. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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