2 syllables: Sex, ing. Stress on Sex.
SEK-sing
/ˈsɛksɪŋ/
Sexing is pronounced SEK-sing (/ˈsɛksɪŋ/). It has two syllables (Sex-ing), with the stress on "Sex". Sexing (noun) refers to the act of determining or indicating the sex of a person or animal, often through biological or genetic means, or more generally, the process of sex determination itself. In specialized contexts, it can also describe the act of classifying organisms by sex or the practice of arranging items by gender-related criteria. The term is used across biology, criminology, and media discussions of gender.
nounSexing (noun) refers to the act of determining or indicating the sex of a person or animal, often through biological or genetic means, or more generally, the process of sex determination itself. In specialized contexts, it can also describe the act of classifying organisms by sex or the practice of arranging items by gender-related criteria. The term is used across biology, criminology, and media discussions of gender.
"The lab report included the sexing of the specimen based on chromosome analysis."
"In zoology, sexing is essential for understanding population dynamics and breeding programs."
"The documentary explores the ethics of sexing in human genetics research."
Pronounce as /ˈsɛk.sɪŋ/ in American, /ˈseks.ɪŋ/ in British, and /ˈsɛks.ɪŋ/ in Australian English. Primary stress on the first syllable: SEX-ing. The first syllable uses the vowel in 'set' for US/AU or 'set' with a harder 'e' like 'bet' is typical; the second syllable is a light, unstressed -ing. Ensure the /k/ or /ks/ cluster is crisp and immediately followed by a soft /ɪŋ/.
Two common errors: (1) Merging the /s/ and /k/ into a single /sk/ sound too aggressively, giving ‘sex-king’; (2) Reducing the second syllable to a quick schwa before -ing, producing /ˈsɛk.sɪŋ/ with a weaker final /ŋ/. Correction: keep the first syllable as /ˈsɛk/ or /ˈseks/ depending on accent, then clearly articulate /-ɪŋ/ without inserting extra vowel or vowel reduction. Practice by isolating /s/ + /k/ in speed drills, then glide into /ɪŋ/.
US/UK/AU share the core /-sɪŋ/ ending; the first syllable vowel shifts slightly: US tends toward /ˈsɛk/ with a lax /ɛ/; UK often uses /ˈseks/ with a clear /s/ after the /k/ making a longer /ɜ/ or /e/ depending on dialect; AU tends to /ˈsɛks/ with rhoticity less pronounced, but many speakers maintain /ˈseks//.timing of the /k/ release may feel tighter in UK; US tends to a crisper /ˈsɛk/; AU blends with a slightly broader vowel and less rhotic influence.
The difficulty lies in the crisp /k/ or /ks/ cluster transition into /ɪŋ/, and maintaining a clean separation between the first syllable and the -ing suffix across accents. The 'sex' portion contains a high-pressure alveolar sibilant followed quickly by a velar stop, which can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, subtle vowel variation in /ɛ/ versus /e/ across US/UK/AU can cause mispronunciations if you rely on generalized tips instead of targeted drills.
Unique to 'Sexing' is the interaction of the sibilant sequences with the following velar stop and the -ing suffix. You’ll often hear a slight coarticulation where the /s/ anticipates the /k/ release, producing a quick transition from alveolar sibilant to velar stop. Focus on making a distinct /ks/ release, then a clean /ɪŋ/. IPA precision helps you keep the first syllable crisp while the second remains light and clipped.
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Sexing derives from the noun sex, which comes from the Old English sēx (also sēxa) via the Latin sexus, and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root sek- meaning ‘cut, separate, divide,’ which evolved to denote gender. The gerund-like form -ing attaches to verbs in English to indicate a process or activity, yielding sexing as the activity of determining sex. The term began appearing in scientific texts in the 19th and 20th centuries as biology and genetics formalized methods for distinguishing male and female organisms. In zoological and medical contexts, sexing became a standard procedural term for labeling specimens, breeding stock, and clinical samples. Over time, its usage broadened to include social and ethical discussions about gender, though in technical literature it most commonly references biological sex determination, such as chromosomal testing, anatomy-based assessment, or growth-stage indicators. First known uses appear in early 20th-century biology papers addressing sex differentiation and sex ratio studies, with popularization in veterinary and fisheries manuals mid-century, continuing into contemporary genetics and forensic contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sexing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Sexing"
-ing sounds
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