sex

Meanings

Noun

• A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species.
• Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles.
• The members of such a category, taken collectively.
• The distinction and relation between these categories, especially in humans; gender.
• Women; the human female sex and those who belong to it.
• Sexual activity, usually sexual intercourse unless preceded by a modifier.
• Genitalia: a penis or vagina.
• Alternative of sect.

Verb

• To determine the sex of (an animal).
• To have sex with.
• To have sex.

Related

Similar words

• gender

Narrower meaning words

• See male and female
• See bigender, transgender, genderless, intersex, genderfluid, homosexual, eunuch
• See clergy

Broader meaning words

• See species

Origin

• From Middle English sexe, from Old French sexe, from Latin sexus, from Proto-Italic *seksus, from Proto-Indo-European *séksus, from *sek-, thus meaning "section, division" (into male and female).
• Usage for women influenced by Middle French sexe (attested in 1580). Usage for third and additional sexes calqued from French troisième sexe, referring to masculine women in 1817 and homosexuals in 1847. First used by Lord Byron and others in English in reference to Catholic clergy. Usage for sexual intercourse first attested in 1900 (in the writings of H.G. Wells).
• From sect.