Meaning & use
sex
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Meanings
noununcountable
The state of being male or female, based on biological features such as chromosomes and reproductive organs.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural when talking about this biological category: 'Please state your sex on the form.'
Patterns
- sex of someone
- based on sex
The form asks for your age and sex.
In most species, sex is determined by chromosomes.
Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal.
noununcountable
Physical activity between people that involves sexual intercourse or other intimate contact.
Grammar: No plural; often used with 'have': 'have sex'. Not used with 'a'.
Patterns
- have sex
- sex with someone
- talk about sex
They had sex for the first time last night.
The film contains scenes of sex and violence.
Many parents find it difficult to talk to their children about sex.
nouncountable
The group of people who are male or the group who are female.
Grammar: Usually used as 'the opposite sex' or 'both sexes'.
Patterns
- the opposite sex
- both sexes
- the male sex
The club was once open only to members of the opposite sex.
The disease affects both sexes equally.
She was the first of her sex to hold that office.
Common combinations
- sex education
- Sex education is taught in most secondary schools.
- sex discrimination
- She sued the company for sex discrimination.
- the opposite sex
- He found it hard to talk to members of the opposite sex.
- sex life
- They talked openly about their sex life.
- sex drive
- Stress can lower a person's sex drive.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gender
- Gender is often used for social and cultural roles, while sex refers to biology; in formal writing, they are not interchangeable.
- intercourse
- Intercourse is a more formal or medical word for the physical act; it is not used for the biological category.
Word family
Commonly confused: sex or gender?
sex vs gender
Gender often refers to social roles and identity, while sex refers to biological classification; use 'sex' for biological categories and 'gender' for social ones.
Practice
The survey asked participants to indicate their ___ on the form.
Choose one answer.
'Sex' fits because the form asks for a biological category. 'Gender' is possible in some contexts but is less precise for a biological question; 'sexes' is plural and would not fit after 'their'; 'sexual' is an adjective and cannot follow 'their'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sex”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.