Asexual (often abbreviated as "ace") is a sexual orientation that describes someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction towards other people.

Here's a breakdown of what that means:

Little to No Sexual Attraction: The core of asexuality is a lack of or very minimal experience of sexual attraction. This distinguishes it from other sexual orientations where sexual attraction is a primary component.

Not a Lack of Libido or Arousal: It's important to understand that asexuality is about attraction, not necessarily about sexual desire (libido) or the ability to experience sexual arousal. An asexual person may have a libido and experience arousal but still not feel sexual attraction towards anyone.

Not the Same as Aromantic: Asexuality is about sexual attraction, while aromanticism is about romantic attraction. Someone can be asexual and romantic (experiencing romantic attraction but not sexual attraction), asexual and aromantic (aroace), or sexual and aromantic. These are separate aspects of attraction.

Spectrum of Asexuality: Asexuality exists on a spectrum. Some asexual individuals may experience very little sexual attraction (graysexual), experience it only under specific circumstances (demisexual), or fluctuate in the intensity of their sexual attraction (aceflux).

Diverse Experiences: The experiences of asexual individuals are diverse. Some may not be interested in sexual activity, while others may engage in it for reasons other than attraction (e.g., to please a partner). Some may desire romantic relationships, while others may not.

In simple terms, asexual describes someone who doesn't experience sexual attraction in the way that allosexual (non-asexual) people do. It's a valid and important orientation, and understanding it helps to recognize the diversity of human experience with attraction and relationships.