Polysexual: Meaning, Multiple-Gender Attraction, and Identity

The word does not specify exactly which genders are included. That depends on the individual. It also does not mean that the person is attracted to everyone within those genders.

Like people of other orientations, polysexual people have individual preferences involving personality, appearance, emotional connection, compatibility, and circumstances.

• a polysexual person;
• polysexual attraction;
• a polysexual identity;
• polysexual representation;
• the polysexual community.

It may also appear after a linking verb:

• She is polysexual.
• They identify as polysexual.
• The character is openly polysexual.

The word may function as a noun:

• He describes himself as a polysexual.
• The group welcomes bisexuals, pansexuals, and polysexuals.

However, polysexual person often sounds more natural.

The related noun is polysexuality:

• The article explains polysexuality and bisexuality.
• Polysexuality is a multisexual orientation.

• poly-, meaning many or several;
• sexual, referring here to sexual attraction.

In this context, poly- refers to the number of genders that may be included in attraction. It does not refer to the number of partners someone has.

This distinction is important because polysexual and polyamorous describe different aspects of identity and relationships.

• She is polysexual.
• He has a polysexual identity.

Polysexuality is the noun naming the orientation:

• Polysexuality involves attraction toward several genders.

The relationship is similar to:

• bisexual and bisexuality;
• pansexual and pansexuality;
• homosexual and homosexuality.

Polysexual more specifically emphasizes attraction toward several genders but not necessarily all.

The two identities may overlap significantly. A person who is attracted to women, men, and nonbinary people might identify as bisexual, polysexual, or both.

Someone may prefer bisexual because of its familiarity, history, or community. Another may prefer polysexual because it communicates attraction toward several particular genders more precisely.

Neither identity is more valid or inclusive than the other.

Pansexual generally means attraction toward people of any gender or regardless of gender.

For example:

• A polysexual person may be attracted to women and nonbinary people but not men.
• A pansexual person may describe gender as not limiting who can become sexually attractive.

The distinction concerns the range of genders included in potential attraction. Individual definitions may still vary.

Polysexual does not necessarily include every gender.

An omnisexual person may experience attraction differently according to gender while remaining capable of attraction toward all genders. A polysexual person may experience attraction toward several genders while excluding others.

It may include:

• bisexuality;
• pansexuality;
• omnisexuality;
• polysexuality;
• other related orientations.

A polysexual person may therefore be described broadly as multisexual, but not every multisexual person is polysexual.

Polyromantic concerns romantic attraction toward several genders.

A person may be both polysexual and polyromantic when their sexual and romantic attractions follow similar patterns. However, the genders involved may differ.

For example, someone might experience sexual attraction toward several genders but romantic attraction toward only one gender.

Polyamorous describes being open to or participating in multiple consensual romantic or intimate relationships.

The terms answer different questions:

• Polysexual concerns which genders someone may find sexually attractive.
• Polyamorous concerns how many consensual relationships someone may want or maintain.

A polysexual person may be monogamous. A polyamorous person may be attracted to only one gender.

Romantic attraction involves wanting a relationship or bond understood as romantic.

These forms of attraction often overlap, but they do not always follow the same pattern. A polysexual person may be:

• polyromantic;
• biromantic;
• panromantic;
• heteroromantic;
• homoromantic;
• aromantic;
• another romantic orientation.

Separating romantic and sexual orientation can help some people describe their experiences more accurately.

A person may experience attraction:

• more strongly toward one gender;
• more frequently toward certain genders;
• differently depending on gender;
• only in particular situations;
• in patterns that change over time.

The person does not need to measure attraction in exact percentages. Variation does not make the orientation less genuine.

Attraction remains selective and may depend on:

• physical appearance;
• personality;
• emotional connection;
• communication;
• compatibility;
• personal values;
• circumstances;
• individual preferences.

Orientation describes the possible range of attraction, not automatic attraction toward every individual.

A polysexual person remains polysexual while:

• dating a woman;
• dating a man;
• dating a nonbinary person;
• single;
• married;
• celibate;
• in a monogamous relationship.

One relationship reflects one connection, not the full range of genders toward whom the person may experience attraction.

• monogamy;
• polyamory;
• another form of consensual nonmonogamy;
• marriage;
• casual dating;
• long-term partnership;
• celibacy;
• single life.

Attraction toward several genders does not create a need for several partners. Relationship structure depends on individual preferences, communication, and mutual agreements.

• attracted to everyone;
• unable to choose;
• unable to be monogamous;
• sexually available;
• likely to be unfaithful;
• confused about bisexuality;
• required to date several genders;
• using an unnecessary label.

These stereotypes confuse sexual orientation with behavior, values, boundaries, and relationship choices.

• using the identity label a person chooses;
• not demanding proof through sexual history;
• avoiding assumptions based on a current partner;
• not confusing polysexuality with polyamory;
• avoiding stereotypes about promiscuity or infidelity;
• respecting changes in identity language;
• not asking invasive questions about excluded genders;
• recognizing that attraction never implies consent.

A person does not need sexual experience with several genders to identify as polysexual.

Polysexual and pansexual are identical.
Pansexuality generally includes attraction regardless of gender, while polysexuality may exclude one or more genders.

Polysexual means polyamorous.
One concerns sexual orientation; the other concerns having or being open to multiple consensual relationships.

Polysexual people cannot be monogamous.
Orientation does not determine relationship structure or faithfulness.

Attraction must be equal across genders.
Its strength, frequency, and form may vary.

A person must date several genders to prove polysexuality.
Identity does not require a particular relationship or sexual history.

• identify as polysexual;
• polysexual identity;
• polysexual orientation;
• polysexual attraction;
• openly polysexual;
• polysexual community;
• polysexual representation;
• polysexual and polyromantic.

• Someone experiences sexual attraction toward women and several nonbinary genders.
• A polysexual man remains polysexual while dating a woman.
• A person identifies as polysexual and aromantic.
• A polysexual person chooses a monogamous marriage.
• Someone uses bisexual publicly and polysexual as a more specific personal label.
• A fictional character is attracted to people of several genders.
• A person distinguishes polysexuality from polyamory.
• Partners discuss orientation without making assumptions about faithfulness.

1. They identify as polysexual.
2. Polysexual people may experience attraction toward several genders.
3. Polysexual does not mean polyamorous.
4. Her current partner does not erase her polysexual identity.
5. Attraction does not need to be equal across genders.
6. He is polysexual and homoromantic.
7. A polysexual person may prefer monogamy.
8. Polysexuality and pansexuality have related but distinct meanings.
9. No one must date several genders to prove their orientation.
10. Sexual attraction never creates automatic consent.

A polysexual person may experience strong, weak, frequent, rare, or changing attraction. They may be sexually active or abstinent, partnered or single, monogamous or nonmonogamous. None of these choices determines whether their identity is valid.

Polysexuality does not imply promiscuity, attraction to everyone, sexual availability, or consent to any activity. Healthy sexuality requires honest communication, respect for gender identity, bodily autonomy, personal boundaries, and freely given agreement.