bisexual
13 synonyms and 0 antonyms for bisexual, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Romantically or sexually attracted to both men and women.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use bisexual
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From "bi-" ("two") plus "sexual". Originally an 18th-century botanical term for plants with both male and female parts; it took on its modern meaning about human sexuality in the late 1800s through early sexology writing.
Full origin of bisexual →Frequently asked questions
What does bisexual mean when used to describe a flower or organism?
When applied to flowers or other organisms, bisexual describes having both male and female reproductive parts, a biological sense distinct from the term's use for human attraction. This usage is common in botany and biology.
Is bisexual used as both a noun and an adjective?
Yes, bisexual can function as an adjective describing attraction or reproductive structure, such as "a bisexual person" or "a bisexual flower," and as a noun referring to a person who is attracted to both men and women, as in "she identifies as a bisexual."