Do you know the meaning of asexual? This article will provide you with all the information you need, including its definition, usage, and more!
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Kevin
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February 7, 2022
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Have you heard the word asexual in your daily life and not known what it means? Don’t worry — the Word Counter has you covered with this guide to the meaning of asexual and more!
What Does the Word Asexual Mean?
According to Healthline, the word asexual refers to a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. However, this does not mean they are necessarily opposed to having sex. A person might be asexual or identify as “ace” and still actively pursue sex for the sensation it provides. However, they may experience little to no physical attraction to their sexual partner. This experience varies from person to person. Like all sexualities, asexuality is not one size fits all.
Many asexual people are in long-term romantic and sexual partnerships or have a variety of partners. However, other asexual people may choose not to be in any relationship or partnership. Everyone experiences asexuality differently.
Some people who are asexual may practice celibacy or abstinence, while others have high sexual activity. There are many different types of sexual desire people experience. Sexual behavior is not always aligned with sexual attraction or sexual feelings. Those are common misconceptions.
Asexual people can experience romantic attraction, which can differ from their romantic orientation. A person can wish to be in romantic relationships without sex or sexual attraction. Asexual visibility for the community is important because some people might view it as a physical disorder or medical condition. However, this is not the case.
What Are the Different Types of Attraction?
There are many different types of attraction that an asexual person may experience. These are listed below from Healthline.
Asexual people may also not experience these feelings of attraction, or people may experience these and not be asexual.
- Aromantic
- Objective physical attraction
- Intimacy
- Amatonormativity
- Subjective sexual attraction
- Passion
- Intellectual
- Polyromantic
- Lust
- Aesthetic attraction
- Romantic attraction
- Protective
- Squish
- Zucchini
- Heteroromantic
- Crush
- Panromantic
- Objective sexual attraction
- Sexual attraction
- Social
- Homoromantic
- Autoromantic
- Emotional attraction
- Physical attraction
- Platonic
- Biromantic
- Alterous
- Demiromantic
- Subjective physical attraction
- Alloromantic (Allo)
- Attachment
- Sensual
- Bisexuality
- Allosexual
What Are Related Words to the Word Asexual?
A few different words are also associated with the asexual spectrum.
First is the word aromantic. This word refers to a person who experiences little to no romantic attraction. This person might still choose to be involved in a sexual or romantic relationship, but they do not experience romantic feelings toward people. Sometimes people who identify as both aromantic and asexual refer to themselves as “aro ace” or “ace aro.”
Another term related to the word asexual is demisexual or grey-asexual. Someone who is demisexual doesn’t find strangers — like a celebrity, for example — sexually attractive. They may not fantasize about a one-night stand with a celebrity crush because they require a deep connection or emotional bond to experience sexual attraction.
A person who is demisexual might refer to themselves as “demi” or “gray ace.” Demisexual people fall under the umbrella term of asexuality, as their sexual interest is related to the ace community.
What Are Other Terms Used By the LGBTQ Community?
New York Times and LGBTQIA Health Education list numerous terms associated with the LGBTQ community. Some of these are sexualities and gender identities, while others are related terms.
If you visit an LGBTQ center or participate in discussions about the LGBTQ community, you might hear these words and phrases:
- Social stigma
- Bisexual
- Pangender
- Pansexual
- Binding
- Aromantic
- Coming out
- Bigender
- Structural stigma
- Transfeminine
- Heterosexuality
- Bottom surgery
- Ally
- Disorders of Sex Development
- Cross-sex hormone therapy
- QPOC
- Biphobia
- Homophobia
- Tucking
- Transition
- Gender affirming surgery (GAS)
- Polyamorous
- Intersex
- Gender non-conforming
- Gay
- Top surgery
- Transmasculine
- Heterosexual
- Men who have sex with men/women who have sex with women (MSM/WSW)
- Transphobia
- Questioning
- Heteronormativity
- Assigned sex at birth
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender
- Agender
- Gender binary
- Genderqueer
- Gender fluid
- Queer
- Cisgender
- Straight
- Lesbian
- Gender dysphoria
- Same-gender loving (SGL)
- Gender identity
- Trans woman/transgender woman/male-to-female (MTF)
- Trans man/transgender man/female-to-male (FTM)
- Two-Spirit
- Drag
- Intersectionality
- Outing
- Same-sex attraction (SSA)
- Homosexuality
How Can the Word Asexual Be Used in a Sentence?
The word asexual is a term that people use to describe themselves. While someone may identify this way, be careful not to call a person asexual unless they tell you that it is okay. Below is an example of how a person might use asexual in a sentence.
In this example, two friends watch a movie at one friend’s house. They are fairly new friends:
Person 1: Wow, that celebrity is so hot. He’s totally in my guilt-free three. Not that I’ve thought about it a lot! How about you? Do you think he’s hot?
Person 2: I mean, he’s objectively attractive, but I don’t want to sleep with him. I’m asexual.
Person 1: Oh! I didn’t know that. I thought you had a boyfriend!
Person 2: I do! I experience romantic attraction, just not sexual attraction. So, I don’t really get celebrity crushes or fantasies, but that’s just me! Some asexual people do.
Conclusion
Overall, the word asexual refers to a person who does not experience sexual attraction. This is an umbrella term that also encompasses demisexual and gray-asexual identities. Someone who is asexual may or may not experience romantic attraction and may or may not participate in sexual behaviors.
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