Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

What is the difference between pansexuality, polysexuality and bisexuality?

201 Answers
Last Updated: 11/08/2021 at 11:55am
What is the difference between pansexuality, polysexuality and bisexuality?
★ This question about LGBTQ+ Issues was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Lauren Abasheva, LMHC

Licensed Professional Counselor

A sex positive, and kink knowledgeable therapist with an open mindset and a clear understanding that we are all different.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
November 15th, 2015 9:44pm
Pansexual is when the genitals of a person does not matter if you will date them, nor do their gender matter, only their heart matters. Polysexuality is feeling an attraction to more then 1 person at the same time and having 3 or more people all being in a relatitonship together. Bisexuality is when you like vagina and penis.
Anonymous
November 19th, 2015 2:57am
Pan means all, so pansexual means attraction to all genders. Poly means many, so polysexual is attraction to many but not nessisarly all genders (even though some pansexuals identify as poly and vis versa) Bi means two, so bisexual is attraction to two genders
Anonymous
November 19th, 2015 6:53am
Pansexuality is generally accepted as being attracted to persons based on who they are and not what they identify with as a gender or a sex. Polysexuality is generally accepted as the attraction to more than one gender or sex. Bisexuality is generally accepted as the attraction to both male and female genders or two genders or sexes.
Anonymous
November 20th, 2015 3:50am
Pansexual is not having a preference. Poly is a relationship involving 3 or more and bisexual is liking both genders but preceding one gender over the other.
sakurafox
November 20th, 2015 9:37pm
I'm pansexual, I can fall inlove with anyone based on personality, bi is boy or girl, and I haven't heard of the other..
Anonymous
November 21st, 2015 1:38pm
Firstly, these are all a sexual orientation and can also describe a set of behaviors. By replacing the prefix bi – (two, both) with pan- (all), poly- (many), omni- (all), ambi- (both, and implying ambiguity in this case), people who adopt these self-identities seek to clearly express the fact that gender does not factor into their own sexuality, or that they are specifically attracted to trans, genderqueer, and other people who may or may not fit into the mainstream gender categories of male and female. This does not mean, however, that people who identify as bisexual are fixated on traditional notions of gender.
Anonymous
November 21st, 2015 9:17pm
Pansexuality is basically loving anyone regardless of gender, Polysexuality is loving people through multiple genders. Those two are different because Polysexuals may not fall in love with a specific gender, whereas Pansexuals have a tendency to fall in love regardless of gender. Bisexuality is when someone tends to fall in love with people either one gender or another, but typically only those two genders.
greenJOHN1971
November 25th, 2015 6:18am
A pansexual loves could be attracted to anyone, and know they are a man or a woman. A Polysexual, is attracted to everyone and isn't sure if they should be a man or a woman. Of course, I would have to ask many questions to confirm. We all know what Bisexuals are. Aren't we all bisexuals?
Greatlistener87
November 26th, 2015 6:28am
Pansexuality is when the person has no limits in sexuality whether biological sex, gender or gender identity. Polysexuality is when the person who incorporate many different kinds of sexuality. Bisexuality is when the person has sexual attractions with both male and female.
CupcakeAce
November 26th, 2015 10:47pm
Bisexuality is when someone is attracted to two genders, most commonly male and female. Pansexuality is when someone is attracted to all genders, meaning male, female, transgender, genderfluid, and any other nonbinary genders. Polysexuality is when someone is attracted to more than two, but not all genders, for example they like females, trans girls, genderfluid, demi girls, and/or others but are not attracted to people of male genders.
Rebecca
November 27th, 2015 1:53pm
Pansexuality is where someone is sexually attracted to people regardless of gender. They could be attracted to someone who identifies as male, female, genderfluid, agender, etc. Polysexuality is an attraction to multiple genders, but not necessarily all genders. Bisexuality is an attraction to two genders, as the prefix "bi" would suggest. Bisexuality is normally used in regards to attraction to males and females, but some people use it as a synonym to pansexual.
Anonymous
November 28th, 2015 12:21pm
Pansexuality means that you feel attracted to all genders, Polysexuality means that you feel attraction towards many genders and Bisexuality means that you are attracted to two genders.
Anonymous
November 28th, 2015 1:55pm
Pan is based on there personality, Poly is based on looks (I think) and Bi is when you like Males and Females.
Anonymous
November 29th, 2015 5:31am
While bisexuality is defined as being attracted to both men and women, and pansexuality is defined as being attracted to all genders (including non-binary ones), polysexuality is defined as being attracted to more than one gender and/or form of gender expression, but not all.
Bigheart4all
December 1st, 2015 11:09pm
Pansexual means you love everyone polysexual means you live multiple people at once and bisexuality is loving both males and females.
Anonymous
December 2nd, 2015 9:32pm
Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders or sexes. Pansexuality is being attracted to a person of any sex or gender. Bisexuality is being attracted to both females and males.
sentient
December 3rd, 2015 4:03am
Bisexual: both hetero and homo sexual feelings towards other people, so whether people of their own sex or people of their opposite sex. Polysexual: liking many, but not necessarily all people. Pansexual: finding everyone, regardless of gender attractive and having possible sexual feelings towards them.
perksofbeingalyssa
December 4th, 2015 7:51pm
Pansexuality is when there can be attraction for anybisy, even those who don fit in the gender male/ female (transgender) polysexuality is when you have the attraction towards multiple genders and sexuality's bisexualism is the sexual attraction to both male and female.
TeresaJ123
December 5th, 2015 10:38am
Pan sexuality is when someone feels attracted to some one because of their personality. Bi sexuality is when someone is attracted to both genders! poly sexuality is when someone is attracted to multiple genders. Bi sexuality and pan sexuality are forms of poly sexuality.
Freewillsky
December 5th, 2015 10:04pm
These are all identities that individuals to describe their sexual orientation or behaviour, depending on how they see it. Bisexuality indicates that the individual feels attraction to men and women (though it doesn't necessarily mean the attraction is 50 / 50. That's up to the individual). Polysexuality indicates that the individual may have multiple sexual relationships at the same time, without out any betrayal or cheating. Pansexuality indicates that the individual is attracted to all genders (without the binary of men / women). Often all fall under the umbrella of "queer" - if that's how the individual likes it, that is.
Sofija001
December 6th, 2015 7:05pm
Pansexual is when someone is attracted to all genders, polysexual is when someone is attracted to some genders, and bisexual is when someone is attracted to only men and woman'
Jenna
December 6th, 2015 8:59pm
I can see how these 3 terms can be confusing and make you question the differences. I'm not in any way experienced in all terms, but I will try my best here for you. Pansexuality which is sometimes called omnisexuality is sexual, romantic, or emotional attractions to *any* sex or gender identity. This isn't to be confused that a pansexual person is attracted to everyone in the sense if they see and meet you they instantly want to date you. It's just like heterosexuality, not every female will be attracted to every male and vice versa. This goes with polysexuality and bisexuality as well. Polysexuality is attraction to *multiple* sexes or gender identities. They even say that this sexuality encompasses or characterized by many different kinds of sexuality. Bisexuality is sexual attraction, romantic attraction, or sexual behavior with 1 or more gender. Many confuse this with being attracted to only cis-male/cis-female genders. That is very false. Bisexual people can be attracted cis-male/transgender, cis-female/a-gender, and many other genders. I hope this helped in some way!
BethanyRuth
December 11th, 2015 11:11pm
Bisexuality is the attraction to only two genders - this is usually gender binary, i.e. male and female. Pansexuality is where you're attracted to all genders - i.e. you're attracted to anyone, regardless of their gender identity. Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders, but not necessarily all.
ChlobiWanKenobi
December 12th, 2015 3:18am
Pansexuals are attracted to all genders, polysexuals are attracted to multiple genders but not necessarily all genders, and bisexuals are most of the time only attracted to 2 genders. There is much speculation on the meaning of these terms and everyone is different.
Pumpkinspicegurl69
December 13th, 2015 1:09pm
Pansexuals can be attracted to any person no matter what their sex is, including transsexuals. Polysexuals can be characterized by many different sexualities and bisexuals can attracted to both males or females.
Becca13
December 13th, 2015 8:36pm
Pansexuality: people who can be attracted to anyone regardless of their gender. They fall in love with a person, their gender does not matter. Thus, they can be attracted towards men or women, but also people who feel like both, neither, different or are intersex. Basically: Pansexuals can be attracted to anyone, their gender doesn't play a significant part in that attraction (although they do recognize it of course) Polysexual: attraction to multiple but not all genders. For instance, they can be attracted to women and genderqueer people, but not men. (or other combinations) Bisexual: attraction towards both men and women, but not genderqueer people, so in a way bisexuality is a form of polysexuality but since it's the most common one I guess that meant getting it's own name? I'm not sure about that
Danbo
December 17th, 2015 2:18am
Poly-sexuality and pan-sexuality are the same thing Bisexuality is having a relationship with both genders at the same time
Anonymous
December 17th, 2015 10:17pm
Bisexuality means being attracted both to males and females, polysexuality means being attracted to multiple genders (which includes also MtF or FtM for example) while pansexuality means being attracted to ALL gender and sexes. I hope I helped at least a little bit :)
ashbradbury42
December 17th, 2015 11:16pm
Pansexuality is the attraction to all genders (including those outside of the binary). Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders but not all genders. Bisexuality is the attraction to two genders.
adoredBlueberry97
December 18th, 2015 12:04am
Pansexuals are not limited in sexual choice by biology, gender or gender identity. Pansexuals are not binary, and have a broader view of sexuality. Bisexuality is a binary sexual identity, attraction to both male and female sexes. Polysexuality is kind of a coverall term, meaning attraction to multiple kinds of expressed sexuality, and would actually encompass pansexuality and bisexuality.