Intersexuality

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɪn.tə.sɛk.ʃuːˈæ.lɪ.ti/

Definitions

1. The condition in which an individual showcases both male and female biological traits as a result of variations in sexual anatomy and genetic characteristics
2. A circumstance where individuals possess a mix of sexual organs or chromosomes that defy traditional male or female classifications
3. A state in which a person exhibits characteristics of both sexes through diverse biological attributes and genetic makeup

Etymology: Intersexuality is a modern compound with no ancient history behind it. It is built from the prefix "inter-", meaning "between" or "among", and "sexuality", so the literal sense is something like "between the sexes." The formation runs through "sexuality", which came from Latin "sexus" (sex), via "sexualis" and the New Latin "sexualitas," which English adopted as "sexuality." Adding "inter-" to that base produced a term for traits that fall between or combine the typical male and female categories. The Latin root "sexus" itself is ancient and traces back to a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root for "to cut" or "to divide," an idea that sits well with the way sex was once thought of as a dividing line. That link is only an informed reconstruction, though, so it is best read as background rather than as the word's direct story.

Synonyms: hermaphroditism, bisexuality, dual sex, ambisexuality, gender diversity