sex cell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency, Specialised)Formal, Scientific, Academic
Quick answer
What does “sex cell” mean?
A reproductive cell (gamete).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reproductive cell (gamete); in biology, a sperm or egg cell specialised for sexual reproduction.
The term specifically refers to haploid cells (containing half the genetic material) that fuse during fertilisation to form a diploid zygote. It emphasises the cell's functional role in sexual reproduction rather than merely its biological structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is identically technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely scientific and clinical. No colloquial or slang connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties. More common in educational/academic texts than in general media.
Grammar
How to Use “sex cell” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] sex cell [VERBs] ...Fertilisation requires the [NOUN] of two sex cells.[NOUN] is the process of sex cell formation.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Standard term in biology textbooks and research papers on reproduction, genetics, and developmental biology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Most non-specialists would use 'egg' or 'sperm'.
Technical
Core terminology in embryology, reproductive medicine, genetics, and developmental biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sex cell”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sex cell”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sex cell”
- Using 'sex cell' in casual conversation instead of 'sperm' or 'egg'.
- Confusing 'sex cell' (gamete) with 'germ cell' (a cell that gives rise to gametes).
- Misspelling as 'sexsell'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'sex cell' is a common synonym for the more technical term 'gamete'. Both refer to reproductive cells like sperm and eggs.
It's very unusual. In everyday contexts, people say 'sperm' and 'egg' (or 'ovum'). 'Sex cell' is reserved for scientific or educational settings.
A germ cell is a precursor cell that can divide and eventually develop into sex cells (gametes). A sex cell is the mature, haploid end product (sperm or egg) ready for fertilisation.
Yes, plants also have sex cells (gametes). In flowering plants, the male gametes are inside pollen grains, and the female gamete is the egg cell within the ovule.
A reproductive cell (gamete).
Sex cell is usually formal, scientific, academic in register.
Sex cell: in British English it is pronounced /sɛks sɛl/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɛks sɛl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SEX cell' = cell for SEXual reproduction. It's the specialised cell for the act that creates new life.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SEX CELL is a HALVED DATA PACKET (containing half the genetic information required to build an organism).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a sex cell?