What does secondary sex characteristic mean?
Definitions for secondary sex characteristic
sec·onda·ry sex char·ac·ter·is·tic
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word secondary sex characteristic.
Princeton's WordNet
secondary sex characteristic, secondary sexual characteristic, secondary sex characternoun
the genetically determined sex characteristics that are not functionally necessary for reproduction (pitch of the voice and body hair and musculature)
Wiktionary
secondary sex characteristicnoun
A feature that distinguishes the two sexes of a species, but is not directly part of the reproductive system.
ChatGPT
secondary sex characteristic
Secondary sex characteristic is a physical trait or feature that develops during puberty and distinguishes between biological sexes but is not directly involved in reproduction. These characteristics are influenced by sex hormones and can include aspects such as body shape, body hair, voice changes, and breast development.
Wikidata
Secondary sex characteristic
Secondary sex characteristics are features that distinguish the two sexes of a species, but that are not directly part of the reproductive system. They are believed to be the product of sexual selection for traits which give an individual an advantage over its rivals in courtship and aggressive interactions. They are distinguished from the primary sex characteristics — the sex organs — which are directly necessary for reproduction to occur. Well-known secondary sex characteristics include manes of male lions and long feathers of male peacocks. Other dramatic examples include the tusks of male narwhals, enlarged proboscises in male elephant seals and proboscis monkeys, the bright facial and rump coloration of male mandrills, and horns in many goats and antelopes. Male birds and fish of many species have brighter coloration or other external ornaments. Differences in size between sexes are also considered secondary sexual characteristics. In humans, visible secondary sex characteristics include enlarged breasts of females and facial hair and adam's apple on males.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of secondary sex characteristic in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of secondary sex characteristic in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Translation
Find a translation for the secondary sex characteristic definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"secondary sex characteristic." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 24 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/secondary+sex+characteristic>.
Discuss these secondary sex characteristic definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In