adjective

polysexual

pol-ee-SEK-shoo-uhl

Polysexual (adjective) means Attracted to people of many genders, but not necessarily all of them. Example: “She came out as polysexual in her final year of school.”

adjective

Attracted to people of many genders, but not necessarily all of them.

"She came out as polysexual in her final year of school."

"He describes himself as polysexual because he is drawn to women and non-binary people but not to men."

noun

A person who is attracted to people of many genders, but not necessarily all of them.

"The group runs a monthly meet-up for bisexuals, pansexuals and polysexuals."

How to Use Polysexual

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAttracted to people of several genders, though not every gender.

When to use it

Neutral and non-clinical; used mainly as a self-description within LGBTQ+ communities.

Memory tip

Polysexual is about who you are attracted to; polyamorous is about how many people you date at once. They are unrelated.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

pansexual bisexual → polyamorous → omnisexual

Common pairings

identify as polysexual polysexual pride flag polysexual attraction

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She came out as _____ in her final year of school.

Etymology

From Greek polys meaning 'many' plus sexual, from Latin sexus.

Origin: Greek and Latin

Synonyms

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multisexual

Antonyms

monosexual

Rhymes for polysexual

dual equal usual sexual manual annual actual ritual mutual casual visual accrual

See all rhymes for polysexual →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between polysexual and pansexual?

Polysexual means attraction to many genders but not all of them — a polysexual person may be drawn to some genders and not others. Pansexual means attraction that is not limited by gender at all. The distinction is one of scope, and people choose whichever label fits their own experience.

What is the difference between polysexual and bisexual?

Bisexual traditionally means attraction to two or more genders, and today is often used broadly for attraction to one's own gender and others. Polysexual specifies attraction to multiple genders while leaving open that some are excluded, so it can feel more precise to people for whom bisexual reads as two.

Is polysexual the same as polyamorous?

No. Polysexual describes sexual orientation — which genders someone is attracted to. Polyamorous describes relationship structure — having more than one romantic partner with everyone's knowledge and consent. A person can be either, both or neither.