Definition of “Asexually”
Word: Asexually
Pronunciation: /eɪˈsɛkʃuəli/
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning:
Asexually means in a way that does not involve sexual reproduction. It refers to how some organisms reproduce without the involvement of two parents or the fusion of gametes (sperm and egg).
This is common in bacteria, fungi, plants, and some animals like starfish or hydra.
Grammatical Formation:
- It is an adverb that modifies how reproduction is done.
- E.g., “Bacteria reproduce asexually.”
Base adjective: Asexual
Adverb form: Asexually
Synonyms:
non-sexually, by cloning, by budding, without mating, unisexually, independently
Antonyms:
sexually, by mating, with fertilization, through intercourse
Related Terms:
asexual, sexual reproduction, binary fission, mitosis, budding, cloning, parthenogenesis, gametes, reproduction
Simple Explanation:
- If something reproduces asexually, it makes copies of itself without needing a partner.
- There is no mixing of DNA from two organisms.
- The offspring are usually genetically identical to the parent.
Common Collocations:
- reproduce asexually
- organisms that multiply asexually
- asexually dividing cells
- plants that grow asexually
- asexually propagated
Sample Sentences:
- Many single-celled organisms reproduce asexually by splitting in half.
- Strawberries can grow new plants asexually using runners.
- Yeast cells reproduce asexually through budding.
- Starfish can sometimes regenerate limbs and reproduce asexually.
- Scientists studied how algae multiply asexually in controlled environments.
Idiomatic Usage:
There are no idioms that use asexually in informal or everyday speech, as it is primarily a scientific/biological term. However, it is frequently used in biology textbooks, research, and educational materials.
Is There Any Relationship to Sexuality?
✅ Yes — but only in a biological sense.
“Asexually” is the opposite of sexually, but it refers to biological reproduction only. It does not relate to sexual attraction, behavior, or human identity in this form.
However, the root word asexual can also refer to people who do not experience sexual attraction — a separate context from “asexually” in biology.