genital

adjective

gen·​i·​tal ˈje-nə-tᵊl How to pronounce genital (audio)
1
2
: of, relating to, or being a sexual organ
3
: of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory following the latency (see latency sense 3) period and during which oral and anal impulses are subordinated to adaptive interpersonal mechanisms
genitally adverb

Examples of genital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For instance, grazing gunshot wounds in the genital area had sometimes been mistaken for targeted knife wounds, the report said. Becky Sullivan, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 In 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, for example, there were rumors that track athlete Helen Stephens was a man, and she was forced to undergo a genital inspection before her event. Helen Santoro, SELF, 24 Aug. 2023 Before 2016, the IOC required athletes to undergo genital surgery. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2024 Topical products may be useful for localized effects, such as improving blood flow to the genital area. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2023 Bidets are an effective alternative to toilet paper that help cleanse the genital and anal regions. Maggie O'Neill, Health, 21 Nov. 2023 This purification is actually genital mutilation, a procedure from which a significant number of girls die, and the girls’ choice of protector is no accident: seven years earlier, Collé Ardo defied tradition, her husband, and the community at large by refusing to let her daughter Amsatou be cut. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023 By 1966, sports officials had implemented a mandatory genital check of every woman competing in the international games. Helen Santoro, SELF, 24 Aug. 2023 In several studies, phthalates have been linked to reproductive disorders and genital abnormalities, the National Research Council said in a 2008 report. Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'genital.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin genitalis, from genitus, past participle of gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of genital was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near genital

Cite this Entry

“Genital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genital. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

genital

adjective
gen·​i·​tal ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce genital (audio)
: of or relating to reproduction or the sexual organs

Medical Definition

genital

adjective
gen·​i·​tal ˈjen-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce genital (audio)
1
2
: of, relating to, or being a sexual organ
3
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory following the latency period and during which oral and anal impulses are subordinated to adaptive interpersonal mechanisms
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by a personality in the genital stage of psychosexual development especially as typified by normal sexual desires and by concern for the happiness and pleasures of others compare anal sense 2, oral sense 3
genitally adverb

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