sexual preference

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛkʃuəl pɹɛf(ə)ɹ(ə)ns/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

sexual preference (countable and uncountable, plural sexual preferences)

1. Sexual orientation.
   • 1986 December 7, Tommy Griffis, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 21, page 14:

     My family has shut me out from their lives because of my sexual preference.

Usage notes

• The term sexual orientation is often preferred to sexual preference, as sexual preference is regarded as incorrectly suggesting that sexual orientation is a matter of choice.