BISEXUAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bisexual mean? 

• BISEXUAL (noun)
  The noun BISEXUAL has 1 sense:

1. a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes

  Familiarity information: BISEXUAL used as a noun is very rare.

• BISEXUAL (adjective)
  The adjective BISEXUAL has 2 senses:

1. sexually attracted to both sexes

2. having an ambiguous sexual identity

  Familiarity information: BISEXUAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BISEXUAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who is sexually attracted to both sexes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

bisexual; bisexual person

Hypernyms ("bisexual" is a kind of...):

sensualist (a person who enjoys sensuality)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bisexual"):

androgyne; epicene; epicene person; gynandromorph; hermaphrodite; intersex (one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made)

pseudohermaphrodite (someone having external genitalia of one sex and internal sex organs of the other sex; not a true hermaphrodite because there is no ambiguity in the sex of the external genitalia and hence no question about gender at birth)

switch-hitter (slang term for a bisexual person)

Derivation:

bisexual (sexually attracted to both sexes)

• BISEXUAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sexually attracted to both sexes

Antonym:

heterosexual (sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex)

homosexual (sexually attracted to members of your own sex)

Derivation:

bisexual (a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes)

bisexuality (sexual activity with both men and women)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having an ambiguous sexual identity

Synonyms:

bisexual; epicene

Similar:

androgynous (having both male and female characteristics)

Derivation:

bisexuality (showing characteristics of both sexes)

 Context examples 

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have special health concerns besides the usual ones that affect most men and women.

(Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Health, NIH)