bisexual

[ bahy-sek-shoo-uhl ]

adjective

1. noting or relating to a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of more than one gender, sometimes understood to include attraction to one's own sex or gender and at least one other sex or gender.
2. Biology.
   1. of both biological sexes.
   2. combining male and female organs in one individual.

noun

1. a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of more than one gender, sometimes understood to include attraction to one's own sex or gender and at least one other sex or gender.
2. Biology. an animal or plant that has the reproductive organs of both biological sexes.

bisexual

/ baɪˈsɛksjʊəl; baɪˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. sexually attracted by both men and women
2. showing characteristics of both sexes

   a bisexual personality

3. (of some plants and animals) having both male and female reproductive organs
4. of or relating to both sexes

noun

1. a bisexual organism; a hermaphrodite
2. a bisexual person

Sensitive Note

As with many other labels used to describe people, the adjective form ( a bisexual author ) is preferred over the noun form. The noun, while sometimes acceptable in the plural (a flag designed for bisexuals ), is often less acceptable in the singular ( a bisexual I work with), especially when not used for self-reference.

Confusables Note

Bisexual is sometimes interpreted to mean romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to exactly two genders, often but not always men and women. However, since at least the 1990s, many bisexual people have been using definitions that acknowledge attraction to more than two genders, including people who do not fit into the gender binary. For some speakers, the bi- in bisexual refers to a gender or genders that are the same as or similar to their own, and a gender or genders that are different from their own. For others, the bi- in bisexual is simply an etymological quirk, like the octo- in October, which is no longer the eighth month. The debate over the definition of bi- also extends to related labels such as pansexual and omnisexual. Pansexual, for example, is sometimes defined as attraction regardless of gender, and omnisexual as attraction to any gender but not regardless of gender. However, bisexual, pansexual, and omnisexual can all be accurately used to describe a person who is attracted to men, women, and other genders, and some speakers use these words interchangeably. Many factors may be involved in a person's choice of which label to use for their sexuality.

Derived Forms

• bisexuality, noun
• biˈsexually, adverb

Other Words From

• bi·sex·u·al·i·ty [bahy-sek-shoo-, al, -i-tee], bi·sex·u·al·ism noun
• bi·sex·u·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bisexual¹

First recorded in 1815–25; bi- ¹ + sexual

Example Sentences

“They will never change and neither their punishments for same-sex relationships … we have to go back to hiding,” says Yousuf, a 21-year old bisexual man from Mazar-i-Sharif in a text message to me on WhatsApp.

From Washington Blade

The one thing they did learn about Kate Brown, over and over again, is that she is a self-described bisexual.

From The Daily Beast

She’s also enthusiastically bisexual, collecting love interests faster than her mom collects designer outfits.

From Time

She never talks about being bisexual, doesn’t discuss her coming out story — even if you ask her — and I defy anyone to find me a recent time in which she’s discussed being part of this community.

From Washington Blade

Nonbinary people also can identify as bisexual if they are attracted to male, female or nonbinary people as well.

From Washington Blade

The new Secret Six continues that tradition establishing Catman as bisexual.

From The Daily Beast

Why is it important to have a bisexual character in a comic book?

From The Daily Beast

It is true that gay and bisexual men are far more likely to transmit HIV than other population groups.

From The Daily Beast

Bisexual people, too, tend to be particularly closeted both at home and in the office.

From The Daily Beast

I liked the idea of being bisexual and then met a girl who had a bit of lesbian experience and got together within a few months.

From The Daily Beast

Each worm is bisexual or hermaphrodite, on which account they multiply with great rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole pantheism of the Vedanta is contained in the symbol of the bisexual deity Ardhanari.

From Project Gutenberg

Alismace—Aquatic plants with radical net-veined leaves, and (generally) conspicuous, white, bisexual flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

Polygonace—Herbs with sheathing stipules, alternate leaves, and small (generally) bisexual flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

Chenopodiace—Herbs with jointed stems and small unisexual or bisexual flowers.

From Project Gutenberg