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sex

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɛks// UK //sˈɛks// sex Academic Archaic General-service Humorous Informal Literary Slang

n. the physical activity of having sex, or the fact of being male or female. You use this word to talk about biology or how people identify.

n. either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions; also refers to sexual activity or intercourse.


SIMPLE

The doctor asked for the sex of the baby.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers found that the sex of the animal influenced how it responded to the new environment.

COMPLEX

While the study initially focused on biological sex, the researchers eventually expanded their scope to include a wider range of social and environmental factors.

Synonyms
Usage

Uncountable when referring to sexual activity in general; countable when referring to the biological categories of male and female.

Pitfall

What is your sex? (in a social conversation)What is your gender?In modern social contexts, 'gender' is preferred for identity, while 'sex' is usually reserved for biological or medical data.

Idioms8 entries

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