What does bisexuality mean?
Bisexuality is a noun describing the state of being sexually or romantically attracted to people of more than one gender. As an identity term it sits within the broader spectrum of sexual orientations, alongside heterosexuality and homosexuality, and is commonly abbreviated informally as 'bi'. The word derives from the Latin prefix 'bi-', meaning 'two', combined with 'sexuality'. While its everyday meaning concerns human attraction and identity, an older biological sense refers to organisms possessing both male and female reproductive organs — a usage now more often expressed as hermaphroditism. Bisexuality appears frequently in discussions of identity, relationships, psychology, and social history, and terms like 'bisexual erasure' describe the marginalisation of bisexual people within some straight and gay communities. Because definitions of attraction vary between individuals, the word is best used descriptively rather than prescriptively, respecting how each person understands their own orientation.
The quality or state of being sexually or romantically attracted to more than one gender.
"Her openness about her bisexuality helped many young people feel less alone."
Most common sense in contemporary usage; typically discussed as an orientation or aspect of identity.
In biology, the condition of an organism having both male and female reproductive organs.
"Certain snail species exhibit bisexuality, functioning as both male and female."
Now largely superseded by the term 'hermaphroditism' in scientific writing.
Rarely used; occasionally appears in academic writing to refer to diverse forms or expressions of bisexual experience.
"The conference explored the many bisexualities represented across cultures and generations."
The word 'bisexual' was first used not about people at all — 19th-century biologists used it to describe plants and animals with both male and female reproductive parts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bisexuality
The word 'bisexuality' combines the Latin prefix 'bi-', meaning 'two', with 'sexuality', from Latin 'sexualis', itself rooted in 'sexus' (sex). The adjective 'bisexual' entered English in the early 19th century, initially used in botany and zoology to describe organisms having both male and female reproductive structures. Its application to human attraction developed later in the 19th century within emerging sexological literature, notably in the work of researchers studying sexual orientation. Related words sharing the 'bi-' root include 'bilingual', 'bisect', and 'bicameral', while 'sexual' and 'sexuality' form the other half of its lineage.
Related word forms
How bisexuality is actually used
Standard register across formal and informal contexts. In modern usage the word most often refers to human sexual orientation; the older biological sense is now largely covered by 'hermaphroditism'. The term is neutral in connotation, though attitudes toward it vary culturally. Some prefer related terms such as 'pansexuality' or 'queer'; self-identification governs appropriate usage.
Easily confused with bisexuality
Bisexuality generally refers to attraction to more than one gender, while pansexuality refers to attraction regardless of gender, though usage overlaps and individual definitions vary.