Definition of secondary sexual characteristic in US English:
secondary sexual characteristic
nounˈsekənˌderē ˈsekSH(əw)əl ˈˌker(ə)ktəˈristik
Any physical characteristic developing at puberty which distinguishes between the sexes but is not directly involved in reproduction.
Example sentencesExamples
- We weighed all captured individuals, measured carapace length, and determined the gender of each individual based on secondary sexual characteristics.
- During puberty the sexual organs mature, the secondary sexual characteristics (such as breasts and body hair) develop and reproduction becomes possible.
- Male secondary sexual characteristics develop normally in puberty, although the testicles typically are small.
- I wonder if there's a similar study of whether young boys are developing secondary sexual characteristics at comparable ages?
- Because females with Turner syndrome don't have proper ovarian development, they usually don't develop all of the secondary sexual characteristics expected during adolescence and are infertile as adults.
- Therefore, secondary sexual characteristics not only provide a means of differentiating gender, but the degree to which they are developed is a good indicator of reproductive condition.