mixed-sexness
|mixed-sex-ness|
/ˌmɪkstˈsɛksnəs/
state of being both sexes
Etymology
'mixed-sexness' is a modern English formation from the adjective 'mixed-sex' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ness'. The element 'mixed' ultimately comes from Latin (via Old French/Middle English) referring to things combined, and 'sex' comes from Latin 'sexus' meaning 'gender, sex'.
'mixed-sexness' arose as a coined noun in modern English by attaching '-ness' to 'mixed-sex'. 'Mixed-sex' itself combines 'mixed' (from Latin mixtus/Old French mixte → Middle English mix) and 'sex' (from Latin 'sexus' → Old French 'sexe' → English 'sex'). The suffix '-ness' derives from Old English '-nes(s)e' used to form nouns of state or quality.
Originally it straightforwardly denoted the state or quality of being mixed-sex (i.e., comprising both sexes); over time its use has stayed close to that meaning but has been applied across social and biological contexts with subtle differences in emphasis.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition or quality of consisting of both male and female individuals within a group, institution, or environment (social usage).
The mixed-sexness of the campus changed student housing policies.
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Noun 2
in biological contexts, the presence or coexistence of both sexes in a population (or, less commonly, the occurrence of both male and female reproductive traits in a species or individual depending on context).
Field notes recorded the mixed-sexness of the colony, with males and females sharing nesting areas.
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Last updated: 2025/12/28 15:20