Ambisexualities
Part of speech: noun
Definitions
- A state of possessing attractions or interests towards multiple genders simultaneously while navigating sexual identities
- Describing relationships or preferences that encompass feelings for individuals of all genders at the same time
- Characterizing an orientation that actively engages with and acknowledges diverse sexual attractions across the gender spectrum
Etymology: "Ambisexualities" is the plural of "ambisexuality," which is the noun form of "ambisexual." The adjective was built in the 20th century from the Latin prefix "ambi-" meaning "both" or "on both sides," combined with "sexual," so the word literally means having sexual attraction to both sexes. The "-ity" suffix turns the adjective into an abstract noun for that quality, and the plural form points to multiple individuals or instances of the trait rather than a single state. The word "ambisexual" is a modern coinage, recorded in English from the early 20th century, and it entered wider use in the decades that followed as sexologists and writers needed terms beyond "bisexual." Its components are transparent, so the history is plain: a compound of familiar parts rather than a word with a dramatic origin story.