Sex

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ•ks, IPA: /sÉ›ks/
• Rhymes: -É›ks
• Homophones: secs

Alternative forms

• sexe rare or archaic

Origin

From Middle English sexe, from Old French sexe, from Latin sexus ("gender"). Thought to be connected with Latin seco, secare ("divide, cut") by the concept of division, or 'half' of the race. Akin to section. Meaning "sexual intercourse" first attested 1929 (in writings of D. H. Lawrence).

Full definition of sex

Noun

1. (countable) A main division into which an organism is placed according to its reproductive functions or organs. In most organisms, the division is into males and females; some organisms have additional sexes.What sex is that hamster?The abnormality is found in both sexes.Slime molds are sometimes erroneously said to have thirteen sexes.
2. (uncountable) The sum of the biological characteristics by which male and female and other organisms are distinguished.The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors.The researchers divided the subjects by sex.
3. (uncountable) Sexual intercourse; the act of sexual intercourse.All you ever think about is sex.We had sex in the back seat.
4. (euphemistic) Genitalia; a penis or vagina.
• 1993, Catherine Coulter, The Heiress Bride (ISBN 1101214147), page 354:She touched his sex with her hand.
5. (obsolete, with the definite article) Women; womankind.
• 1740, Samuel Richardson, Pamela:‘With all my heart,’ replied my master; ‘I have so much honour for all the sex, that I would not have the meanest person of it stand, while I sit, had I been to have made the custom.’
• 1759, Laurence Sterne, , , page 52:
• ... unless it was with his sister-in-law, my father's wife and my mother,—my uncle Toby scarce exchanged three words with the sex in as many years ...
• 1769, w:William Blackstone, w, Thus female honor, which is dearer to the sex than their lives, is left by the common law to be the sport of an abandoned calumniator.
• 1807, John Hoole, trans. Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, XXVII ll. 1003-4:But how can each the boasted treasure own,
  When through the sex no two chaste wives are known?
• 1862, Wilkie Collins, No Name:Even the reptile temperament of Noel Vanstone warmed under the influence of the sex: he had an undeniably appreciative eye for a handsome woman, and Magdalen's grace and beauty were not thrown away on him.

Usage notes

Synonyms

• (either of two main classes of sexually reproducing living things) gender sometimes proscribed; see that entry
• (sexual intercourse) coitus, sexual intercourse; See also

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

• German: Sex

Verb

1. (zoology) To determine the biological sex of an animal.It is not easy to sex lizards.
2. (colloquial) To have sex with.The passionate lovers sexed each other every night.OK, so I'm sexin' her, right, and all I can think of is this other girl.