Word
genital
Phoneticsgen·i·tal, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdʒɛnətəɫ/
UK/dʒˈɛnɪtəl/
Definitions
01relating to sexual organs
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
adj. relating to the outer sexual organs of a person or animal.
adj. pertaining to the external reproductive organs or genitalia.
“The doctor checked for any signs of a genital infection during the exam.”
“The patient presented with a persistent genital rash that had failed to respond to over-the-counter topical treatments.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Teaching tip
While the word itself is neutral and medical, it is rarely used in casual social conversation unless discussing health.
Synonyms
02sexual organs
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Science Technical
n. the outer sexual organs of the body.
n. the external sex organs; almost exclusively used in the plural form 'genitals'.
“The athlete wore a protective guard to prevent injury to his genitals.”
“In many mammalian species, the morphology of the male genitals is a key factor in taxonomic classification.”
Usage
Almost always used in the plural form 'genitals'.
Pitfall
The doctor examined his genital.
The doctor examined his genitals.
When used as a noun to refer to the organs, it is almost always plural.
Teaching tip
In formal or medical writing, 'genitalia' is often preferred over 'genitals'.
Real-World Examples
“In some of the recent cases, the rash has often been around the genital area.” “Sara realised she was a victim-survivor of Female Genital Mutiliation (FGM), a procedure she had endured as a young girl.” Etymology
From Middle English genital, from Latin genitalis (“of or belonging to generation”), from genitus, past participle of gignō (“to beget, generate”); see genus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/genital