Sex Definition, Examples, and Key Differences

Meaning 1：biological sex (sex)

sex 🔊

/sɛks/

Whether a person is male or female, based on their body when they are born.

biological sex 🔊

➕

/ˌbaɪ.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl ˈsɛks/

The state of being male or female, primarily determined by physical and genetic characteristics present at birth.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'sexus', meaning 'division' or 'gender'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'S' for separate and 'ex' for exit — separate doors for each biological sex.

📖 Example

On the birth certificate, the doctor clearly marked the baby's sex as female. 🔊 On the birth certificate, the doctor clearly marked the baby's sex as female.

🔗 Collocations

sex determination – the process of identifying whether an organism is male or female

sex ratio – the proportion of males to females in a population

sex organs – the reproductive organs associated with being male or female

🔄 Synonyms

gender (n.) – often used interchangeably with sex, but can also refer to social and cultural roles

biological sex (n.) – a more precise term emphasizing the physical aspects

🌱 Derivatives

sexual (adj.) – relating to sex

sexuality (n.) – a person's sexual orientation or preferences

sexist (adj.) – discriminating based on sex

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'sexus', used in biology to classify organisms by reproductive roles. It is a standard term on birth certificates and medical records.