unisexuality

English

Etymology

unisexual +‎ -ity

Noun

unisexuality (uncountable)

1. The property of being unisexual (having characteristics of a single sex); (especially in botany) the property of being imperfect, i.e. having only male (stamina) or female (pistils) reproductive organs in one flower (monoecism) or individual (dioecism).
   • 1883, Lawson Tait, The Pathology and Treatment of Diseases of the Ovaries: (being the Hastings Essay for 1873), page 128:

     In all cases of hermaphroditism in animals where unisexuality of the individuals is the rule, the doubly sexed organs are always imperfect, […]

   • 1958, Advances in Genetics, Academic Press, →ISBN, page 218:

     As pointed out by Allen (1940), most mutations in the sex genes of hermaphroditic species will tend towards unisexuality, whereas most mutations in dioecious species will tend towards hermaphroditism (or monoecism), […]

2. The state of being unisex (suitable for any sex).
   • 1988, Joseph Reino, Stephen King: The First Decade, Carrie to Pet Sematary, Twayne Publishers, page 45:

     It is somewhat jarring to find the name "Charlie," a name usually [applied to men, applied to a woman] […] those oriented toward female equality or unisexuality in names and behavior will silently approve of his apparent broad-mindedness.

   • 1993, U. D. Anyanwu, Jude C. U. Aguwa, The Igbo and the Tradition of Politics, Fourth Dimention Publishing Company Limited, →ISBN, page 86:

     One observes the increasing percentage of unisexuality in Igbo onomastics, and it would not be surprising if such unisexuality invades the area of politically suggestive names.

Synonyms

• diclinism

Translations

property

• Finnish: yksineuvoisuus (fi)

See also

• bisexual
• monosexual