Sexué

Sexué is a French adjective used primarily in biological and medical contexts to describe anything related to sex or to sexual reproduction. It denotes that an organism or a trait involves sexual means of reproduction or distinguishes biological sexes. The feminine form is sexuée and the masculine form is sexué; the related noun for biological designation is sexe.

In biology, the term is commonly applied to contrast sexual versus asexual processes. For example, reproduction sexuée refers to reproduction that involves genetic contributions from two sexes, as opposed to reproduction asexuée, which occurs without fertilization. The phrase caractères sexuels refers to sexual characteristics, including primary (anatomical organs) and secondary (traits like coloration or dimorphism) distinctions between sexes. Organismes sexués are those that reproduce through sexual means, often exhibiting distinct male and female individuals or gametes.

Etymology and usage notes: sexué derives from the noun sexe (sex) in French, itself from Latin sexus, with the adjectival ending -é. The term is most common in formal, scientific writing and educational material. It is less frequently used in everyday language, where phrases like reproduction sexuée or caractères sexuels are standard.

See also: sexe (biological sex), reproduction sexuée, reproduction asexuée, caractères sexuels, sexuel/sexuelle (adjectives relating more broadly to sexuality).