What does asexuality mean?
Asexuality is a noun describing the absence of sexual attraction to others, understood today primarily as a sexual orientation rather than a choice, phase, or disorder. A person who experiences no sexual attraction toward any gender may identify as asexual, often shortened informally to 'ace'. The term must be distinguished from celibacy, which is voluntary abstention from sexual activity, and from aromanticism, which concerns romantic rather than sexual attraction; many asexual people still form deep romantic relationships. The word also has an older scientific sense, referring to reproduction without the union of gametes, as seen in some plants and animals. Once misclassified in psychological literature, asexuality gained wider recognition in the early twenty-first century, with studies suggesting around one per cent of the population may be asexual. Its growing visibility has made it an important term in discussions of identity, inclusion, and the diversity of human experience.
A sexual orientation characterized by a persistent lack of sexual attraction to any gender.
"Her asexuality did not prevent her from building a loving, committed partnership."
Often discussed alongside related identities such as aromanticism and demisexuality.
(Biology) Reproduction without the fusion of gametes; propagation by non-sexual means.
"The strawberry plant spreads through asexuality, sending out runners that root into new plants."
This sense is largely confined to scientific contexts.
Asexuality was listed as a disorder in diagnostic manuals for decades before researchers recognized it as simply another way of being human — roughly 1% of people experience it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of asexuality
Asexuality derives from the Greek prefix 'a-' meaning 'without', combined with 'sexual', from Latin 'sexus' meaning 'sex'. The adjective 'asexual' first appeared in English in the early nineteenth century, originally used chiefly in biology to describe reproduction without fertilization; the noun 'asexuality' followed later. Its application to human sexual orientation developed through twentieth-century psychology and became widely adopted after the growth of asexual communities and research in the early 2000s.
Related word forms
How asexuality is actually used
In modern usage the human sense predominates. The word is neutral in register but carries personal significance when used about identity; it should not be treated as synonymous with celibacy, abstinence, or a medical condition. Some speakers use the informal abbreviation 'ace'. The biological sense appears mainly in scientific writing.
Easily confused with asexuality
Celibacy is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity, whereas asexuality is an orientation characterized by lack of sexual attraction, independent of behaviour or choice.
Aromanticism is the lack of romantic attraction to others; a person may be asexual while still experiencing romantic attraction, or vice versa.