Etimology
From Latin sexuālis, from sexus (“sex”), equivalent to sex + -ual; see sex.
adjective
sexual (comparative more sexual, superlative most sexual)
Arising from the fact of being male or female; pertaining to sex or gender, or to the social relations between the sexes. [from 17th c.]
(biology) Capable of sexual reproduction; sexed, sexuate. [from 19th c.]
Pertaining to sexual intercourse or other intimate physical contact. [from 18th c.]
Characterised by sexual feelings or behaviour; possessing sexuality. [from 19th c.]
Pertaining to sexuality as a cultural phenomenon; relating to sexual behaviour or conduct. [from 19th c.]
(LGBT, of a person, rare) Experiencing sexual attraction; not asexual.
(obsolete) Pertaining to the female sex. [17th–19th c.]
Examples
Women face sexual discrimination in the workplace.
Giving oral sex is my favorite sexual act.
One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools […] as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.
She's a very sexual woman.
We don't often think of Jesus as a sexual person, but He certainly was not asexual. He was not just God on earth. He was fully human and […] He was sexual, single, and celibate.
a sexual innuendo
one's sexual preferences
Synonym: allosexual
[…] “You know, there are asexuals with sexual partners.” His ears flicked, and he grinned. “There's things both of us can try to do […] ”
Izzy tells me that at her high school the most useful distinction is not between heterosexuals and homosexuals but between those who are sexual and those who are not. The abstainers call themselves “aces,” short for “asexuals.”
Synonym: feminine
[T]he inquiry is whether she have reason or not. If she have, which, for a moment, I will take for granted, she was not created merely to be the solace of man, and the sexual should not destroy the human character.
Related words
related terms
sex
noun
sexual (plural sexuals)
(biology) A species which reproduces by sexual rather than asexual reproduction, or a member of such a species.
(LGBT) A person who experiences sexual attraction, a person who has interest in or desire for sex (especially as contrasted with an asexual).
Examples
Antonym: asexual
Synonym: allosexual
Antonym: asexual
The findings suggest that asexuality is best conceptualized as a lack of sexual attraction; however, asexuals varied greatly in their experience of sexual response and behavior. Asexuals partnered with sexuals acknowledged having to 'negotiate' sexual activity.
In this article we use absence of sexual attraction to others as a definition but recognise that this definition is contested. […] [A survey] was also advertised online , thus aiming to reach a mixture of asexuals and sexuals.