secondary sex characteristic

noun

A feature that distinguishes between the two sexes in adult members of a species, but is not directly part of the reproductive system.

“Breasts in females and facial hair in males are examples of secondary sex characteristics in humans.”

Similar
secondary sexual characteristicsecondary sex character
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Meanings

nounsecondary sex characteristic (plural secondary sex characteristics)

plural secondary sex characteristics

  1. A feature that distinguishes between the two sexes in adult members of a species, but is not directly part of the reproductive system.

    Breasts in females and facial hair in males are examples of secondary sex characteristics in humans.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe genetically determined sex characteristics that are not functionally necessary for reproduction (pitch of the voice and body hair and musculature)

Similar
secondary sexual characteristicsecondary sex character
Broader
sex characteristicsexual characteristicsex character

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish toissijainen sukupuoliominaisuus, sekundaarinen sukupuoliominaisuus
  • toissijainen sukupuoliominaisuusTranslations
  • sekundaarinen sukupuoliominaisuusTranslations
French caractère sexuel secondaire
  • caractère sexuel secondaireTranslations
Spanish carácter sexual secundario
  • carácter sexual secundarioTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

secondary sex characteristic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20sex%20characteristic

MLA

“secondary sex characteristic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20sex%20characteristic. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “secondary sex characteristic,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secondary%20sex%20characteristic.

Source: secondary sex characteristic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.