sex hygiene: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Formal, Technical, Dated (Historical/Public Health)
Quick answer
What does “sex hygiene” mean?
The practice of maintaining cleanliness and health in relation to sexual activity and the genital organs, primarily aimed at preventing infections and diseases.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of maintaining cleanliness and health in relation to sexual activity and the genital organs, primarily aimed at preventing infections and diseases.
The body of knowledge, principles, and practices concerning the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and the promotion of reproductive and sexual health. Historically, it often referred to public health campaigns and education on venereal diseases.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally dated in both variants.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes early-to-mid 20th century public health posters, pamphlets, and educational films. It can sound antiquated and narrowly focused on disease avoidance.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both BrE and AmE, largely supplanted by 'sexual health'.
Grammar
How to Use “sex hygiene” in a Sentence
N of N (principles of sex hygiene)N for N (guidelines for sex hygiene)N + education/campaign (a sex hygiene campaign)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sex hygiene” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The school nurse was tasked with **sex-hygieneing** the upper-year students. (Note: This is a highly forced, non-standard usage for illustration only.)
American English
- The clinic aimed to **sex-hygiene** the community through outreach. (Note: This is a highly forced, non-standard usage for illustration only.)
adjective
British English
- The **sex-hygiene** pamphlet was distributed to soldiers. (Attributive noun use, not a true adjective.)
American English
- They watched a **sex-hygiene** educational film from the 1950s. (Attributive noun use, not a true adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used historically in public health, medical history, or social history papers. Rare in contemporary research.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
May appear in historical medical texts or discussions on the evolution of sexual health education.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sex hygiene”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sex hygiene”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sex hygiene”
- Using it as a modern synonym for 'sexual health'. It is dated.
- Confusing it with general personal hygiene.
- Spelling as 'sex higiene' (misspelling of 'hygiene').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a dated historical term. The modern, preferred term is 'sexual health', which has a broader and more positive focus on well-being, not just disease prevention.
'Sex hygiene' is a narrower term focusing primarily on cleanliness and prevention of infection. 'Sexual health' is a holistic concept defined by the WHO, encompassing physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality.
Only if you are writing from a historical perspective or quoting a historical source. For contemporary contexts, 'sexual health', 'STI prevention', or more specific terms should be used.
It was most prevalent during public health crises like the World Wars to control venereal diseases. Its decline correlates with the sexual revolution, the development of antibiotics, and the emergence of a more comprehensive 'sexual health' paradigm in the late 20th century.
The practice of maintaining cleanliness and health in relation to sexual activity and the genital organs, primarily aimed at preventing infections and diseases.
Sex hygiene: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛks ˌhaɪ.dʒiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛks ˌhaɪ.dʒin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical compound term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'HYGIENE' for clean, and 'SEX' for activity; together they form 'clean practices for sexual activity'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS CLEANLINESS / DISEASE IS DIRT (The term maps the concept of physical cleanliness onto the domain of sexual behaviour to prevent disease).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most appropriate modern equivalent of the term 'sex hygiene'?