asexual

[ ey-sek-shoo-uhl ]

adjective

1. Zoology, Botany.
   1. having no organs of reproduction:

      In nature, there are numerous examples of asexual plant and animal species.

   2. independent of sexual processes, especially not involving the union of male and female germ cells:

      Asexual reproduction is common among echinoderms such as starfish, basket stars, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers.

2. experiencing little or no sexual attraction to other people: Compare graysexual ( def 1 ).

   a woman who identifies as asexual.

3. not involving sex or sexual feelings; nonsexual: an asexual hug.

   an asexual friendship;

   an asexual hug.

noun

1. a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to other people. Compare graysexual ( def 2 ).

asexual

/ æ-; eɪˈsɛksjʊəl; ˌæ-; eɪˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having no apparent sex or sex organs
2. (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of male and female gametes, as in vegetative reproduction, fission, or budding

Derived Forms

• aˈsexually, adverb
• asexuality, noun

Other Words From

• a·sex·u·al·i·ty [ey-sek-shoo-, al, -i-tee], noun
• a·sex·u·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of asexual¹

First recorded in 1820–30; a- ⁶ + sexual

Example Sentences

As someone on the asexual spectrum, that sounded perfect.

From Los Angeles Times

In the second series, Tobie Donovan’s character Isaac tells the rest of the characters he is asexual, meaning he experiences little or no sexual attraction.

From BBC

The pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution by a male.

From Seattle Times

This gives detailed information on the life stages of this parasite as it matures, changing from an asexual state to a sexual state, which is necessary before the parasite can be transmitted to mosquitoes.

From Science Daily

Under laboratory conditions, Pristina grows very rapidly and creates copies of itself by asexual reproduction.

From Science Daily

About This Word

What does asexual mean?

A person who is asexual experiences no sexual attraction to others. Asexual people still experience romantic attraction and may participate in sexual activity.

Asexuality is not the same thing as celibacy or abstinence. It’s not a choice or disorder. It is a sexual orientation that falls on a spectrum, and includes diverse identities, behaviors, and attractions.

What are some other words related to asexual?

affectional orientation
aromantic
bisexual
demisexual
omnisexual
pansexual
sexual orientation
gray-asexuality

Where does asexual come from?

The word asexual combines the prefix a-, meaning “not” or “without,” and sexual, referring to sex. Asexual is first recorded in the late 1700s, originally used in biology to refer to organisms, especially plants, that had no sex organs.

By the 1800s, asexual was referring to organisms that can reproduce without sexual intercourse with another organism. Komodo dragons and hammerhead sharks, for instance, are capable of asexual reproduction.

By the 1860s, asexual moved into the realm of human sexuality as a term for lacking sexual feelings or attraction to someone

A notable organization for the asexuality community is the website AVEN, the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network, launched in 2001, and since then has been representing and advocating for asexual individuals. Into the 2000s, asexual persons have joined LGBTQ activism for the fair and equal treatment of all sexual orientations, including asexuality.

As Rory Gory, Digital Marketing Manager of the LGBTQ crisis resource and help organization The Trevor Project, explains in their article for Dictionary.com on “What Does It Mean To Be Asexual?”: “Not every asexual person experiences their sexuality the exact same way. Asexuality, like many sexual orientations, exists on a spectrum.”

An asexual person may not experience sexual feelings but still can have romantic desires and relationships that do not involve intercourse.

How is asexual used in real life?

Asexual describes a person who identifies as asexual. The fact of being asexual is called asexuality. Like most labels, it is generally considered offensive to refer to an asexual individual as an asexual. Discrimination against asexual people is sometimes referred to as aphobia.

I am on the asexuality spectrum. I am the grey stripe on the flag. I identify as demisexual or grey ace. I am romantically attracted to people regardless of gender. I am sex positive. I am queer. My identity matters. I matter. I refuse to erase myself to make aphobes happy.💜🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/Z2TjA8A7qU

— Elle Rose 💜🤍🖤 (@scretladyspider) May 6, 2020

"Here's what asexuality is and what it isn't, based on resources from Aces and Aros, The Asexual Visibility & Education Network (@asexuality) and The Trevor Project" 💜 https://t.co/iBnlCuAt54

— The Trevor Project (@TrevorProject) October 21, 2019

While many of us experience sexual and romantic attraction similarly, sexual and romantic attraction are separate.

You can be sexually attracted to x gender, but romantically attracted to y gender – or any combination of genders.

— Melissa A. Fabello, PhD (@fyeahmfabello) May 5, 2020

Many asexual individuals call themselves aces, based on a phonetic shortening of asexual. They may use the ace of spades playing card to represent themselves. The asexual flag includes stripes in black (representing asexuality), gray (for those between asexuality and sexuality), white (sexuality), and purple (community). Asexual Awareness Week takes place in the last full week of October each year.

The term allosexual is used in the asexual community for a person who experiences sexual attraction. It’s based on allo–, a prefix meaning “other.”

More examples of asexual:

“[W]e barely see characters admit to not desiring sex, or an asexual person navigating their sexual orientation in an empathetic and thoughtful manner as a gay character coming out would.”
—Michele Kirichanskaya, The Mary Sue, August 2018

“I want people to understand that asexual people are simply that—people. Any age, any gender, any background, any look, these are just people with a different sexual orientation, the one in which they are simply not attracted to anyone.”
—Laia Abril quoted in BuzzFeed, February 2019