Here is a list of various sexual orientations, each with a brief explanation of the unique experiences and attractions associated with them. This guide aims to provide clarity and understanding about the diverse ways in which people experience sexual attraction and identify their sexuality.
Abrosexual
Abrosexuality, colloquially known as Sexually Fluidity, is a sexuality that involves feeling different levels of sexual attractions over time. This may fluctuate over their whole lifetime or more frequently. For example, an abrorosexual person may find themself more sexually attracted to men one week and then to women or nonbinary people the next, or their attraction may change in intensity.
The term Abroromantic is the romantic counterpart of this sexual orientation and can be used to refer to romantic fluidity over time.
The prefix “abro-” is from the Greek habrós, which means “delicate” or “graceful.” This prefix is used to symbolize the changing nature and ‘movement’ of abroromantic people.
Aegosexual
Aegosexual, sometimes referred to as anegosexual (and historically known as autochorissexual) is an asexual orientation. People who are aegosexual experience a disconnect between themselves and the person(s) that arouse them. Aegosexuals may masturbate, have sexual fantasies or enjoy sexual content (e.g: porn, erotica etc) but they generally feel little to no sexual attraction and typically do not desire sexual activities with other people.
Allosexual
Allosexual usually refers to someone who consistently and predictably feels sexual attraction for other people.
Allosexual people may have any sexual orientation. In contrast, people who rarely or never experience sexual attraction are considered graysexual or asexual.
Androgynosexual
A person who is attracted to those with an androgynous appearance, irrespective of gender.
Androsexual
Usually refers to someone who is physically attracted to masculinity, regardless of the person’s gender identity.
Asexual
Usually refers to a person who experiences low or no sexual attraction towards others. Other types of attraction can be experienced such as sensual, aesthetic, or physical.In both speech and writing, asexual is sometimes shortened to “ace”.
Autosexual
Usually refers to a person who is more physically attracted to themselves than to others and may prefer masturbation to sex with a partner.
BDSM Orientated
BDSM-oriented, or BDSM-sexual, refers to someone who experiences attraction to a person who engages in some form of BDSM.
This orientation may be considered controversial by some people who feel that it may undermine LGBT+ struggles against sexual identities being seen as inappropriate or NSFW by detractors.
Bicurious
The desire to want to please somebody the same gender or sex as you or the curiosity to try being sexually intimate with someone of the same sex/gender if you have never done so before.
Bisexual
Usually refers to a person who is physically attracted to people of more than one sex or gender, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree.
Cupiosexual
Someone who does not experience sexual attraction but still desires/likes sexual relationships.
Demisexual
Refers to a person who usually develops sexual attraction towards someone after establishing a deep emotional connection with them. This is a form of graysexuality. The prefix “demi” means “half.” Someone who is demisexual often experiences ‘half’ of sexual attraction as they may tend to experience what is known as secondary sexual attraction (e.g: the type of attraction that builds over time) rather than primary sexual attraction (e.g: the faster attraction felt by allosexuals in situations like first meeting a stranger or having a crush on a celebrity). The defining characteristic of demisexuals is that they usually feel sexually attracted to someone after establishing an emotional bond but they may still have partner gender preferences e.g: be gay, straight, bisexual, or pansexual etc. The frequency at which demisexuals experience sexual attraction can vary from person to person and doesn’t necessarily affect libido.
Dyke
Usually refers to a masculine or androgynous lesbian who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to someone of the same sex or gender. Dyke is a term that has been reclaimed by the lesbian community, even though it’s still sometimes a slur when coming from others. As an orientation, it’s chosen by those who find it empowering for themselves.
Finsexual
Usually refers to a person who is attracted to femininity regardless of a person’s gender identity. Is sometimes considered more inclusive than Gynesexual (as the prefix “gyne” focuses on female anatomy). The “fin” prefix here refers to “feminine in nature”, not anything to do with finances/money.
Fluctuating/Evolving
Usually refers to a person whose sexual orientation is shifting and/or developing.
Fraysexual
Fraysexual is considered a form of Graysexuality and can be described as the opposite of demisexuality. A Fraysexual person experiences less or no sexual attraction with people they are deeply connected with, or may lose attraction when a relationship is getting emotionally closer and/or more stable.
Gay
Usually an umbrella term that refers to a person who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to someone of the same sex or gender. Often ‘gay’ as a sexual orientation refers more specifically to male-identifying people who are attracted to other male-identifying people rather than to lesbians but colloquially it can be used to mean homosexual. Some people who are gay may also be attracted to non-binary people. This could be an attraction to people whose gender presentation is the same as their own (similar to finsexual or androsexual), or who were assigned the same sex/gender at birth, or it could be an attraction only to people whose physical attributes (genitals etc) are the same as their own (similar to gynesexual).
Graysexual
Usually refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction under very limited and specific circumstances or someone whose sexual attraction is anywhere in the grey area between allosexual and asexual.
Gynesexual
Gynesexual, or Gynosexual, usually refers to a person who is attracted to femininity or female anatomy regardless of a person’s gender identity. Related to Finsexual (which is similar but may be considered more inclusive).
Heteroflexible
This term refers to people who are mostly attracted to the “opposite” gender but are also open to some form of play, romance or sexual contact with the same sex or gender (or with those whose sex / gender falls outside the male/female binary). The meaning of heteroflexibility is subjective; there’s not just one way to be heteroflexible, for some people the attraction may be physical, aesthetic, romantic, sexual, emotional, or a combination of these.
Heterosexual
Usually refers to a person who is sexually attracted to someone of a different sex or gender.
Homoflexible
Usually refers to a person who identifies as primarily gay or lesbian but can be physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to members of a different sex or gender, including those whose sex or gender identity falls outside the male/female binary.
Lesbian
Usually refers to a woman who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to someone of the same sex or gender. Some non-binary people also identify with this term.
Megasexual
People who require a sexual connection before being able to form an emotional connection. This can be considered the opposite of a Demisexual orientation. Megasexuals may have multiple sexual partners at the same time though they may not consider themselves polyamorous or swingers and instead focus on exploration and experimentation.
Neptunic
Neptunic can be used by any gender but is the attraction to women, feminine or neutral non-binary individuals. Basically, you’re attracted to all genders except men and masculine-aligned individuals.
Noetisexual
People who are only attracted to people that they are mentally connected to. This might be people they share perspectives with or an attraction to the way their mind works. The word “noetic” stems from the Greek verb for “intellect.”
Nomascsexual
Nomascsexual is where the individual is sexually attracted to any other individual who isn’t male or masculine-aligned. They are attracted to women and non-binary individuals.
Pansexual
Usually refers to a person who can be physically attracted to a person regardless of their sex or gender.
Phallosexual
Phallosexual is a sexual orientation meaning attraction to people with penises, regardless of gender expression or gender identity.
Related to Androsexual, but is focused on penises only, rather than masculinity or masculine nature, and includes femininity and all forms of gender expression and gender identity.
Placiosexual
A Placiosexual person is someone who enjoys performing sexual acts onto others but they have no desire for sexual acts to be performed onto them. They may be sex neutral or sex repulsed in this matter. Placiosexual comes from the Latin verb ‘please’, the act of pleasing.
Polysexual
Usually refers to a person who is physically and/or romantically attracted to multiple, but not all genders.
Queer
Usually refers to a person who doesn’t identify with traditional categories around gender identity and sexual orientation.
Questioning
Usually refers to a person who is examining their sexual orientation.
Reciprosexual
Reciprosexual is a sexual orientation that comes under the asexual umbrella. People who are reciprosexual do not experience sexual attraction unless the other person is attracted to them first. This orientation may be combined with other orientations to indicate what genders a reciprosexual is attracted to when the attraction does happen. For example someone identifying as homosexual and reciprosexual is exclusively attracted to people who are the same gender or sex as them and who are attracted to them first.
Sapiosexual
Usually refers to a person who is sexually attracted to a person’s mind (intellectual or mental qualities) over their appearance or body. The attraction is based on the subject’s capacity for, and exemplification of intelligence. “Sapio” actually stems from the Latin verb for “wisdom” rather than intelligence. “Noeti” stems from a greek verb meaning intelligence (noetic) and is seen in a related sexuality known as noetisexual. There are contrasting views on the subject of sapiosexuality. Some folks use this term to represent a preference as ideas about intellect or other mental qualities can be vague or subjective. Some people may also perceive sapiosexuality as having innate class/socioeconomic prejudice, or as being ableist.
Sapphic
A term used to describe women or women-aligned’s attraction towards other women. This differs from lesbian in that this can include other types of sexual orientations besides homosexuality.
Sexually Fluid
Sexual fluidity, also known as Abrosexuality, means you have no particular set sexual orientation, attraction, or behavior and it can change over time or in certain situations. People who identify as sexually fluid might experience changes in how they sexually identify, who they are attracted to, what type of sexual partners they have or don’t ascribe to any labels. Sexual fluidity, in short, means your sexual orientation isn’t permanently fixed.
Straight
Usually refers to a person who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to someone of the opposite sex or gender.
Queer
Usually refers to a person who doesn’t identify with traditional categories around gender identity and sexual orientation.
Unlabeled
Unlabeled/Unlabelled or No Label is an umbrella term for those who do not want to identify under specific label(s) for their sexuality, gender, or other identity. They may have an identity that fits into a pre-existing identity or orientation but don’t want to use that identity to label themselves. It can describe their sexual attraction, gender expression, gender identity, or anything else concerning their persona.
Unsure
Usually refers to a person who is still exploring which sexual orientation they identify with.
Vulvosexual
Vulvosexual is a sexual orientation meaning attraction to people with vulvas, regardless of gender expression or gender identity. Related to Finsexual or Gynesexual and sometimes also referred to as Vaginasexual. This orientation is focused on genitals (vulvas / vaginas) only, rather than femininity or female nature, and includes masculinity and all forms of gender expression and gender identity.