Origin of preference¹
From the Medieval Latin word praeferentia, dating back to 1595–1605. See prefer, -ence

Synonym Study

See choice.

from — Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words. (2025d). In Dictionary.com. 

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sexual preferences

sexual preferences, noun

The term sexual preference as used to refer to sexual orientation is widely considered offensive in its implied suggestion that a person can choose who they are sexually or romantically attracted to.

from — sexual preference. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 

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Sexual Orientation

“Sexual preference” redirects here. 

Sexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns are generally categorized under heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality,^[1][2][3] while asexuality (experiencing no sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified as the fourth category.^[4][5]

These categories are aspects of the more nuanced nature of sexual identity and terminology.^[3] For example, people may use other labels, such as pansexual or polysexual,^[3][6] or none at all.^[1] According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation “also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions”.^[1][7] Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioral science to describe sexual orientation as an alternative to a gender binary conceptualization. Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity; gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity.^[8] The term sexual preference largely overlaps with sexual orientation, but is generally distinguished in psychological research.^[9] A person who identifies as bisexual, for example, may sexually prefer one sex over the other. Sexual preference may also suggest a degree of voluntary choice,^[9][10][11] whereas sexual orientation is not a choice.^[12][13][14]

Although no single theory on the cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, scientists favor biological theories.^[15][12][16] There is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial, biological causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males.^[15][17][18] A major hypothesis implicates the prenatal environment, specifically the organizational effects of hormones on the fetal brain.^[15][16] There is no substantive evidence which suggests parenting or early childhood experiences play a role in developing a sexual orientation.^[15][19] Across cultures, most people are heterosexual, with a minority of people having a homosexual or bisexual orientation.^{[15][17]: 8 [20]: 9–10} A person’s sexual orientation can be anywhere on a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex.^[1]

Sexual orientation is studied primarily within biology, anthropology, and psychology (including sexology), but it is also a subject area in sociology, history (including social constructionist perspectives), and law.^[21]

See also: Sexual identity, Human sexual activity, and Situational sexual behavior

Sexual orientation is traditionally defined as including heterosexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality, while asexuality is considered the fourth category of sexual orientation by some researchers and has been defined as the absence of a traditional sexual orientation. An asexual has little to no sexual attraction to people.^[4][5] It may be considered a lack of a sexual orientation,^[22] and there is significant debate over whether or not it is a sexual orientation.^[4][5]

Most definitions of sexual orientation include a psychological component, such as the direction of an individual’s erotic desires, or a behavioral component, which focuses on the sex of the individual’s sexual partners. Some people prefer simply to follow an individual’s self-definition or identity. Scientific and professional understanding is that “the core attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge between middle childhood and early adolescence”.^[1] Sexual orientation differs from sexual identity in that it encompasses relationships with others, while sexual identity is a concept of self.

The American Psychological Association states that “[s]exual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes” and that “[t]his range of behaviors and attractions has been described in various cultures and nations throughout the world. Many cultures use identity labels to describe people who express these attractions. In the United States, the most frequent labels are lesbians (women attracted to women), gay men (men attracted to men), and bisexuals (people attracted to both sexes). However, some people may use different labels or none at all”. They additionally state that sexual orientation “is distinct from other components of sex and gender, including biological sex (the anatomical, physiological, and genetic characteristics associated with being male or female), gender identity (the psychological sense of being male or female), and social gender role (the cultural norms that define feminine and masculine behavior)”.^[1]

Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with sexual identity referring to an individual’s conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and orientation referring to “fantasies, attachments and longings.”^[23] Individuals may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors.^[1] People who have a non-heterosexual sexual orientation that does not align with their sexual identity are sometimes referred to as ‘closeted‘. The term may, however, reflect a certain cultural context and particular stage of transition in societies which are gradually dealing with integrating sexual minorities. In studies related to sexual orientation, when dealing with the degree to which a person’s sexual attractions, behaviors and identity match, scientists usually use the terms concordance or discordance. Thus, a woman who is attracted to other women, but calls herself heterosexual and only has sexual relations with men, can be said to experience discordance between her sexual orientation (homosexual or lesbian) and her sexual identity and behaviors (heterosexual).^[24]

Sexual identity may also be used to describe a person’s perception of their own sex, rather than sexual orientation. The term sexual preference has a similar meaning to sexual orientation, and the two terms are often used interchangeably, but the American Psychological Association states sexual preference suggests a degree of voluntary choice.^[9] The term has been listed by the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Gay and Lesbian Concerns as a wording that advances a “heterosexual bias”.^[9] The term sexual orientation was introduced by sexologist John Money in place of sexual preference, arguing that attraction is not necessarily a matter of free choice.^[25]

Professor Michael King stated, “The conclusion reached by scientists who have investigated the origins and stability of sexual orientation is that it is a human characteristic that is formed early in life, and is resistant to change. Scientific evidence on the origins of homosexuality is considered relevant to theological and social debate because it undermines suggestions that sexual orientation is a choice.”^[146]

In 1999, law professor David Cruz wrote that “sexual orientation (and the related concept homosexuality) might plausibly refer to a variety of different attributes, singly or in combination. What is not immediately clear is whether one conception is most suited to all social, legal, and constitutional purposes.”^[21]

from — Wikipedia contributors. (2001, December 14). Sexual orientation. Wikipedia. 

Check out the entire Wikipedia page for more info.

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