Confusing words explained
“pansexual” vs “bisexual” — What’s the Difference?
Bisexual: two genders; pansexual: all genders
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: pansexual vs bisexual
Bisexual: two genders; pansexual: all genders
pansexual vs bisexual Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of pansexual
Attracted to people of any gender or sex
Feeling attraction to people of all genders. A person who is pansexual can be attracted to anyone.
Use when describing attraction regardless of gender
- My friend is pansexual.
- Pansexuality means attraction to all genders.
Meaning of bisexual
a person sexually attracted to both men and women; also used as adjective
someone who is attracted to and may have romantic relationships with both men and women
Use bisexual to describe sexual orientation including attraction to men and women; increasingly used as identity term.
- She likes both men and women.
- Many bisexual people face unique challenges within LGBTQ+ communities.
Usage Notes & Nuance
pansexual: Term used in LGBTQ+ communities to describe broader sexual orientation.
bisexual: Bisexuality is increasingly recognized and discussed in modern media and society.
How to Remember the Difference
Bisexual = attracted to multiple genders (gender matters); pansexual = attracted regardless of gender (gender does not matter).
Common Mistakes with pansexual and bisexual
Mistake with pansexual
Correct: pansexual means attracted to people of any gender
Mistake with pansexual
Correct: Bisexual: two genders; Pansexual: all genders
Mistake with bisexual
Correct: Bisexual people date multiple genders.
Mistake with bisexual
Correct: Bisexual and pansexual are different.
Practice Quiz: pansexual or bisexual?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
My friend is _____.
Question 2
She identifies as _____ and has dated different genders.
Question 3
Many _____ people face unique challenges within LGBTQ+ communities.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About pansexual vs bisexual
What’s the difference between “pansexual” and “bisexual”?
Bisexual: two genders; pansexual: all genders
When should I use “pansexual”?
Use when describing attraction regardless of gender
When should I use “bisexual”?
Use bisexual to describe sexual orientation including attraction to men and women; increasingly used as identity term.
How can I remember pansexual vs bisexual?
Bisexual = attracted to multiple genders (gender matters); pansexual = attracted regardless of gender (gender does not matter).
Is it “pansexual” or “bisexual” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.