Bisexual is a sexual orientation that describes someone who is romantically, emotionally, and/or sexually attracted to more than one gender.

Here's a breakdown of what that means:

Attraction to More Than One Gender: The core of bisexuality is the capacity to be attracted to individuals of more than one gender. This typically includes attraction to both men and women.

Spectrum of Attraction: Bisexuality exists on a spectrum. Some bisexual individuals may have a preference for one gender over another, while others may experience attraction equally across genders. The way attraction manifests can also vary.

"More Than One" is Key: The defining factor is attraction to more than one gender. This distinguishes bisexuality from monosexual orientations (attraction to only one gender, like heterosexual or homosexual).

Inclusivity: While historically often understood as attraction to men and women, contemporary understandings of bisexuality often include attraction to non-binary individuals as well. The "more than one gender" definition is intended to be inclusive of the full spectrum of gender identities.

Not Necessarily 50/50: It's a common misconception that bisexual attraction is always split evenly between genders. This is not the case. Bisexual individuals can experience attraction in varying degrees and combinations across different genders.

Separate from Gender Identity: Bisexuality is a sexual orientation and is distinct from gender identity. A bisexual person can be a man, a woman, a non-binary individual, or any other gender identity.

Bisexual vs. Similar Terms:

Pansexual: Pansexuality is often defined as attraction to all genders or attraction regardless of gender. While there can be overlap, some bisexual individuals feel their attraction is specifically to more than one gender but not necessarily all genders, or that gender plays a role in their attraction.

Polysexual: Polysexuality is attraction to multiple, but not necessarily all, genders. Bisexuality can be seen as a subset of polysexuality.

In simple terms, bisexual means being attracted to more than one gender. It's a broad and inclusive orientation with diverse experiences of attraction.