sexuality

/ˈsɛkʃəˌwælədi/

/sɛkʃuˈælɪti/

The noun sexuality can refer to sexual matters of all kinds. It often describes having sexual feelings. A novel about a teenager growing up may examine the awakening sexuality of its main character.

Sexuality also describes a person's sexual preferences and orientation — meaning whether you're gay or straight. Sexuality can refer to erotic experiences, but it can also be used broadly to refer to how organisms — whether human or animal — reproduce. There are scientists who exclusively study sexuality, from the mating habits of animals to the peculiarities of how humans pair up.

Definitions of sexuality

1. noun

   the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles
   synonyms: gender, sex

   types:

   maleness, masculinity

   the properties characteristic of the male sex

   androgyny, bisexuality, hermaphroditism

   showing characteristics of both sexes

   femaleness, feminineness

   the properties characteristic of the female sex

   virility

   the masculine property of being capable of copulation and procreation

   type of:

   physiological property

   a property having to do with the functioning of the body