Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

What's the difference between Pansexuality, Bisexuality and Polysexuality?

32 Answers
Last Updated: 01/24/2022 at 5:56am
What's the difference between Pansexuality, Bisexuality and Polysexuality?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Stacy Overton, PhD.

Counselor

I am an enthusiastic life-long learner and also a professor of counseling. I have a passion for peoples stories and helping to guide and empower the human spirit.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous - Expert in LGBTQ+ Issues
January 10th, 2015 12:45am
All three terms refer to sexual attraction, which is a pull or allure in which you feel you want to partake in sexual activities with a specific person. Note that sexual attraction is a feeling, not a behavior, so your sexual experiences (or lack thereof) have no sway on your sexual attraction. Bisexuality originally meant feeling sexual attraction to "both" genders, with bi meaning two. Since there are far more than two genders, the definition was changed to mean either sexual attraction to two or more genders or sexual attraction to the same gender and one other. Polysexuality means sexual attraction to multiple genders, with poly meaning many. Pansexuality means either sexual attraction to all genders or sexual attraction regardless of gender, with pan meaning all. Many (but not all) people who identify as pansexual say gender doesn't figure in at all when they feel sexually attracted to someone. Which of these three someone uses depends entirely on which one they feel most comfortable with. Some people may claim those who use these labels are indecisive or looking for attention. Ignore them. If you feel it, it is real and valid.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2017 5:43am
Bisexuality leans more towards an attraction to two specific genders (hence the 'bi'), whereas pansexuality focuses on the attraction to all genders (though many pansexual people also identify as bisexual, and many bisexual people also identify as pansexual, this is because many non-binary people choose to identify themselves as male or female, which is the most common two attractions for a bisexual person). On the other hand, polysexuality may not necessarily be an attraction to two genders or all genders, rather three, four, five, etc. specific genders. Hope I explained this properly, sorry if I got this wrong! (feel free to correct me) Hope this helps :)
avanef
April 20th, 2020 1:51am
Pansexuality is the sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others. Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one sex or gender. It may also be defined as romantic or sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender identity, which is also known as pensexuality. Polysexuality as been defined as "encompassing or characterized by many different kinds of sexuality", and as sexual attraction to many, but not all, genders. Those who use the term may be doing so as a replacement for the term bisexual, believing bisexual reifies dichotomies. All are valid sexualities and at the end of the day if you feel as though you don't have a title you feel best represents who you are, then don't worry about it. At the end of the day, you love who you love and that's all that should matter. If someone else doesn't like it or understand it, don't worry about it.
Aprildays2432
May 17th, 2015 6:49pm
Pansexuality is similar to bisexuality, but more fluid. They can be attracted to not just female and male genders but any gender. Bisexual people are attracted to men and women. Polysexuality is very similar to Pansexuality but Polysexual people can also be in love with more then one person at a time.
Potatofry
November 21st, 2017 1:16pm
Being pansexual means being attracted to all genders. Being bisexual means being attracted to two genders(not necessarily males and females) being polysexual means being attracted to some genders (more than 4) but not all gendera
Aayla
- Expert in LGBTQ+ Issues
August 6th, 2019 5:07pm
Bisexuals are attracted to more than one gender. They could potentially be attracted to all genders, or only to some. They may or may not have a preference. Pansexuality and polysexuality respectively mean attraction regardless of gender and attraction to more than two, but not all gender. Since the definition of bi also covers these sort of cases, you're free to identify as bi/pan or bi/poly as you prefer.
yurannus
September 14th, 2015 8:55pm
Bisexuals can have feelings for boys and girls *trans peoole are in boys and girls category too* Pansexuals can have feelings for nonbinary and genderfluid people and boys and girls And im sorry i dont have any idea about whats polysexual.
Anonymous
July 28th, 2015 10:10am
From what I know, bisexuality is where there is a sexual attraction to both your own gender and the opposite gender/s. Pansexuality is when there is sexual attraction to all genders, or in other words sexual attraction regardless of gender. Polysexuality is the attraction to more than one gender, so bisexuality and pansexuality can come under polysexuality, but there are different forms of polysexuality.
MamaTrinidad
July 7th, 2015 8:29pm
Pansexuality, you are not limited to who you love. Long story short, you don't care about any features of the person. You may love lesbian, bisexual, transgender. It doesn't matter. Bisexuality, you have an interest in dating male and female. Polysexuality, you like all different kinds of genders, very similar to pansexuality.
kindWaterfall10
August 15th, 2017 6:03pm
Before answering this question, you have to realise the difference between sex and gender. Sex is what's between your legs (e.g. your genitalia) and your gender is your characteristics and interests, and the way you express yourself which may or may not coincide with your sex. Bisexuality is the attraction to both sexes, but people used to call it "attraction to both genders" when people thought there were only two. Pansexuality evolved from the notion that there are more than two genders, not just penis and vagina (genderfluid, bigender etc.) and pansexuals are attracted to all of them. Pansexuals also are attracted to people based on their characteristics and not their gender. Polysexuality is when someone is attracted to some (but not necessarily all) genders
Anonymous
December 18th, 2016 10:01pm
Pan- Attraction to all genders Bi- Attracted to boys and girls Poly- Attracted to most genders
SympatheticPrune2001
December 1st, 2018 4:48am
Bisexuality is the attraction to two genders, mostly, although some people who are attracted to more than two genders identify as bisexual. For example, a bisexual person may be attracted to males and females but not to nonbinary people, or they may be attracted to males and bigender people, but not to other nonbinary people or females. Pansexuality is the attraction to people regardless of gender. A pansexual person may be gender-blind, or they may recognise gender, but be attracted to all of them (as I am). Some people who would be defined as pansexual May identify as bisexual instead. So a pansexual person will be attracted to males, females, and nonbinary people. Polysexuality is the attraction to more than two genders, but not all. Some people who would technically be defined as polysexual identify as bisexual instead. For example, a polysexual person may be attracted to males, females and pangender people, but not to other nonbinary people. Hope this helped!
Anonymous
January 24th, 2022 5:56am
Pansexuality is sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders and/or sexes. The terms usually refer to one's sexual preference but can also be used to refer to people's romantic preferences. Someone may be asexual but still identify as pansexual, bisexual, or polysexual to refer to their romantic interests. Despite having definitions, people may have different believes about what constitutes each of these criteria and some people may not like the title.
Anonymous
November 21st, 2017 9:50am
Pansexuality is the ability to be attracted to more than two genders. It could be male female non binary or trans people as well. Bisexuality is the attraction to two genders only. It can be any two genders but only two. Polysexuality is the ability to be attracted to more than one person at a time and be in a relationship with more than one person. This doesn't mean cheating but by being in a three or more way relationahip where everyone else is poly too.
brightRose39
November 13th, 2017 6:07am
There is a difference between Pansexuality, Bisexuality, and Polysexuality. A person that is pan is attracted to people no matter their gender. That includes if they are non-binary. If a person is bi they are attracted to two genders. Male and female that does not include non-binary like a person who is pan would. Finally polysexual is a person having a relationship with more than one person at a time and it is not considered cheating.
Anonymous
August 28th, 2017 9:35am
Bisexuality is an attraction to both genders. "Bi" meaning that only two genders are noted. Pansexuality means you don't look at genders but more to who the person is personality wise. This recognises all genders. Poly sexual is similar in that it is an attraction to all genders (so it is more gender identity based)
tranzferdinand
June 20th, 2017 8:52am
As far as I know, nothing. Pansexuality started as an off set to bisexuality as a way to include trans people. But we are already included under gay, straight, and bi... And non-binary people are still included under bisexual. I believe polysexuality started as a way to express preferences within this concept, but it's still largely like bisexuality.
Anonymous
March 28th, 2017 3:26am
The prefix is key to knowing the answer. pan means all, bi means both or two, and poly means some but not all. pansexuals like all genders, bisexuals prefer just men and women, and polysexuals can like some genders but not all genders (ex, men and genderfuid people but not women)
InsightfulCupcake22
December 13th, 2016 6:55pm
Bisexuality means you like two genders: guys and girls. Pansexual is liking anybody, looks don't matter very much, it's all personality here. :) Polysexuality is liking more than one gender: a transsexual, a guy, a lesbian.
animalSpace92
October 4th, 2016 7:43pm
Pansexuality is someone who sees a person for what they are.Bisexuality is attracted to binary gender of choice. Polysexuality is a multiple of partners.
invisiblepeanut
August 1st, 2016 11:28pm
Pansexuality is the sexual attraction to every gender, including non-binary people. Bisexuality is sexual attraction to two genders, typically the two binary genders, but sometimes people identify as bisexual and are attracted to, for example, girls and non-binary people, and not boys. Polysexuality is attraction to two or more genders. That means you could be attracted to boys, girls, and non-binary folk.
adoredIcicle46
August 1st, 2016 1:48am
Bisexuality is being attracted to a man or women by gender. Pansexuality is being attracted to all gender despite gender or sexuality. Polysexuality is similar to pansexuality but is limited to a few of your choosing like only choosing men with women sex organs.
PositiveDreamer2016
May 30th, 2016 6:28pm
Pansexuality is sexual or romantic attraction to two sexes (male or female). Bisexuality is often confused with Pansexuality and is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or romantic or sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender. Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders. Hope this helps!
TheFluteCat101
May 18th, 2016 9:00am
One analogy I have seen is imagining sexualities as a direction of travel. Bisexuals can walk forwards and backwards (attraction to males and females). Polysexuality is being able to walk in some directions, but not all. Pansexuality is being able to walk in all directions, with no preference over which way you choose to walk.
Anonymous
May 10th, 2016 1:25pm
Pansexuality is having a sexual attraction towards all genders and sexualities alike. Bisexuality is that towards two genders, while polysexuality is towards more than one.
PerplexedRose
January 26th, 2016 6:58am
Bisexuality and pansexuality are a form of polysexuality. Polysexuality means "attraction to multiple genders." Bisexuality is attraction to both male and female. Pansexuality is attraction to all of the genders. (That includes but is not limited to transgenders, genderfluids, and people who don't identify with any gender.)
spectacularIceCream42
December 28th, 2015 11:49pm
Pansexual is not having a preferences, you look at a persons personality rather than gender. Bisexuality is boy or girl not necessarily the entire gender spectrum and polysexuality is many, so rather than completely not looking at gender you can a have preference. None of these are the same and should not be confused.
Anonymous
December 8th, 2015 1:49pm
well pansexuality means you are attracted to people in general . Bi people are atracted to both genders and poly people incorporating many different kinds of sexuality
Anonymous
October 26th, 2015 5:03am
Panxsexuality means you're attracted to any gender, so you can be attracted to a man, woman, nonbinary individual etc. if they strike your fancy. Bisexuality means you're attracted to mainly two groups of genders, so you can be attracted to men and women, men, nonbinary, etc. Polysexuality means you can be attracted to many genders, but there are one to few exceptions, so you can be attracted to genderfluid people, trans people, and women yet not attracted to men.
attainablehappiness
October 12th, 2015 3:27pm
Ps sexuality is the attraction to all genders. For example, you can be attracted to anyone of any gender (or lack Thereof) Bisexuality is the attraction to two genders, not necessarily male or female, though those are the most common. Polysexuality is the attraction to most genders, just not all. So more than 2, but not all of them. Hope this helps! ❤️- Keri