Etymologically
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sexuality

Etymology and origin of the English word sexuality

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1789
Ultimate origin
English (sexual)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˌsek.ʃuˈæl.ə.ti/, US /ˌsek.ʃuˈæl.ə.t̬i/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from sexual and -ity.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The fact of being sexed, or having distinctions between the sexes: 1789 in Etymonline;[2] before 1800 in the OED, about 1800 in Merriam-Webster.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Preoccupation with sexual matters is from 1848,[3] and the capability of sexual feelings from 1879.[2][3] An 1894 medical handbook drew a strict biological line: “A man has sex, a spermatozoon sexuality.”[2] The sense of a person's sexual identity or orientation is by 1980.[2]

Timeline

  • 1789 – being sexed.[2]
  • 1848 – preoccupation with sex.[3]
  • 1879 – capability of sexual feeling.[2][3]
  • 1980 – sexual identity.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person's sexual feelings, interests or orientation.
  2. The capacity for sexual feelings; sexual character or potency.
  3. The state of being distinguished by sex.

Word family

  • antisexuality
  • heterosexuality
  • homosexuality
  • psychosexuality
  • supersexuality

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Sexuality.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/sexuality. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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