S-e-x or sex?
s-e-x is a noun meaning “Censored spelling of sex”; sex is a noun meaning “A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis…”. Wiktionary gives them as spellings of the same word. s-e-x is written with a hyphen and sex as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between s-e-x and sex?
| s-e-x | sex | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun | noun, verb, prefix |
| Meaning | Censored spelling of sex | A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species; the system of such categories… Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles To determine the sex of (an animal) |
| Example | none recorded | The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors |
| Forms | none | sexes |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | /ˈsɛks/ /ˈseks/ |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 166 times per million words |
Sources: s-e-x and sex in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of s-e-x and sex
s-e-x
- 1
Censored spelling of sex
sex
- 1
A category into which sexually-reproducing organisms are divided on the basis of their reproductive roles in their species; the system of such categories, which can differ by organism or by taxonomic…
The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors
- 2
To determine the sex of (an animal)
- 3
A form of sexa-, meaning six
- 4
Another category, especially of humans and especially based on sexuality or gender roles
- 5
UScolloquialTo have sex with
- 6
The members of such a category, taken collectively
- 7
UScolloquialTo have sex
- 8
The distinction and relation between these categories, especially in humans; gender
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, s-e-x or sex?
s-e-x is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; sex 166 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).