sexual

[ sek-shoo-uh l or, esp. British, seks-yoo- ]
/ ˈsɛk ʃu əl or, esp. British, ˈsɛks yu- /

adjective

of, relating to, or for sex: sexual matters; sexual aids.
occurring between or involving the sexes: sexual relations.
having sexual organs or reproducing by processes involving both sexes.

Origin of sexual

1645–55; < Late Latin sexuālis, equivalent to sexu(s) sex + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM sexual

Words nearby sexual

sexton, sextuple, sextuplet, sextuplex, sextuplicate, sexual, sexual abuse, sexual deviation, sexual dimorphism, sexual dwarf, sexual generation

Example sentences from the Web for nonsexual

  • “It was a very beautiful, loving, nonsexual type of turn,” Keller says.

    Hollywood's Teen Bride |Maria Elena Fernandez |October 31, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

  • Even the nonsexual films start to take on acutely sexual undertones.

    Andy Warhol's Artistic Orgy |Rachel Wolff |June 24, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

  • Sublimation: The act of freeing sex-energy from definitely sexual aims; utilization of sex-energy for nonsexual ends.

    Outwitting Our Nerves |Josephine A. Jackson and Helen M. Salisbury

British Dictionary definitions for nonsexual (1 of 2)

nonsexual
/ (nɒnˈsɛksjʊəl) /

adjective

not of, relating to, or characterized by sex or sexuality

British Dictionary definitions for nonsexual (2 of 2)

sexual
/ (ˈsɛksjʊəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by sex or sexuality
(of reproduction) characterized by the union of male and female gametes Compare asexual (def. 2)

Derived forms of sexual

sexually, adverb

Word Origin for sexual

C17: from Late Latin sexuālis; see sex

Medical definitions for nonsexual

sexual
[ sĕk′shōō-əl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, involving, or characteristic of sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the sex organs and their functions.
Implying or symbolizing erotic desires or activity.
Of, relating to, or involving the union of male and female gametes.

Other words from sexual

sex′u•al•ly adv.