What does “sex” mean?
- 1
nounthe biological state of being male or female
The form asks for your name, age, and sex.
- 2
nouneither of the two groups, male or female, that people and animals are divided into
The school is open to students of both sexes.
Sex at a glance
- Part of speech
- noun
- CEFR level
- B1 (intermediate)
- Pronunciation
- /sɛks/ · SEKS
How to use “sex” correctly
On forms, “sex” usually means biological category, while “gender” often refers to social identity.
Common phrases with “sex”
- both sexes
- the opposite sex
- sex discrimination
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Word family
- sexual
- sexuality
“sex” is on these word lists
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