noun
sex
SEHKS
noun
1
The biological category — male or female — based on reproductive roles.
"The form asked applicants to state their sex."
"Doctors can often determine a baby's sex during an ultrasound."
2
Sexual activity, especially intercourse.
"The show was criticized for its explicit depictions of sex."
How to Use Sex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the male/female biological category, or sexual intercourse — context tells you which.
Common mistake
Sex refers to biological category; gender is often used for social/personal identity — many style guides now distinguish the two.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
sexed past tense, sexes plural, sexes singular
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The form asked applicants to state their _____.
Etymology
From Old French sexe, from Latin sexus, ultimately from a root meaning "to cut, divide" — reflecting the idea of the species being divided into two categories.