noun

Kinsey

KIHN-zee

Kinsey (noun) means a rating on the Kinsey scale, a system for describing where someone falls between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual. Example: “He jokingly described himself as a Kinsey 2.”

noun

A rating on the Kinsey scale, a system for describing where someone falls between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual.

"He jokingly described himself as a Kinsey 2."

How to use Kinsey

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA number from the Kinsey scale used to describe sexual orientation on a spectrum rather than as a strict either/or.

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He jokingly described himself as a _____ 2.

Etymology

Named after Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956), the American biologist who devised the scale in his research on human sexuality.

· First attested 1894

Class of 1894 Kinsey joined the language around 1894.

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Rhymes for Kinsey

key hey bey dey ley grey they joey whey obey prey abbey

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Kinsey” mean?

The word “Kinsey” means a rating on the Kinsey scale, a system for describing where someone falls between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual.

How do you pronounce “Kinsey”?

“Kinsey” is pronounced KIHN-zee (/ˈkɪnzi/ in IPA).

How do you use “Kinsey” in a sentence?

Here is “Kinsey” used in a sentence: “He jokingly described himself as a Kinsey 2.”

What part of speech is “Kinsey”?

“Kinsey” is a noun.

Where does the word “Kinsey” come from?

The word “Kinsey” dates back to around 1894.