What does sexualized mean?
Sexualized means made sexual or given a strong sexual character. It may describe images, language, stories, products, or people that have been presented as provocative or explicitly sexual. The word is frequently used in discussions of media, advertising, politics, race, gender, and popular culture, especially when describing the representation of someone who is made to appear sexually available or objectified. “Sexualized” can also mean deliberately made attractive in a sexual way, although this usage is sometimes less neutral than the first. As a verb, sexualize means to give something such a sexual character or representation. The term often carries evaluative force: calling something sexualized usually suggests that sexual emphasis was imposed upon it rather than arising naturally from the subject. It should therefore be distinguished from merely sexual, which can neutrally describe something connected with sex or sexuality without necessarily implying exaggeration, objectification, or deliberate provocation.
Made sexual, or presented with explicit sexual themes, imagery, or significance.
"Critics accused the advertisement of using a sexualized image of the athlete."
Common in criticism of representation, advertising, media, and popular culture.
To portray or represent something in explicitly sexual terms, or make it sexually provocative.
"The campaign was accused of sexualizing women in its advertising."
Often used when describing how a person, image, product, or idea is represented rather than what that subject naturally depicts.
Sexualized describes more than being merely related to sex: it names the act of giving something a deliberately sexual character.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sexualized come from?
The word was formed in English by adding the suffix -ize, meaning “to make” or “to turn into,” to the adjective sexual, with -ed marking a completed or adjectival result. The underlying adjective sexual comes from Latin sexualis, derived from sexus, meaning “sex” or “birth.” Related English forms include sexualize, sexualization, and sexuality; these share the same base but developed into distinct words with grammatical and contextual differences.
Related word forms
How sexualized is actually used
The term is often used in cultural, political, media, and academic criticism. It can describe deliberate sexual presentation, but it does not necessarily imply that the underlying subject is intrinsically sexual. British and American English generally use the same form.