Origins and Linguistic Roots
The adjective sexy ultimately derives from the noun sex (from Latin sexus meaning “gender” or “sex”) plus the adjectival suffix -y. The suffix -y (from Old English -ig) generally means “characterized by” and appears in many adjectives (e.g. germ(y), creak(y)) . According to the Oxford English Dictionary, sexy first appeared in writing in the late 19th century. In May 1896 Arnold Bennett wrote in a letter, “Lane had decided… on the score that it was seksy & America didn’t want no seks-problems” – this is the first recorded use of the word (here spelled “seksy”) . At that time it clearly meant “risqué” or “bawdy,” not simply “sexually attractive” .
- 1894: The related term sexful (meaning full of or preoccupied with sex) appears in slang usage .
- 1896: Arnold Bennett’s letter (above) provides the earliest citation of sexy, used in a jocular sense of “sexually suggestive” .
- 1905: The Online Etymology Dictionary records sexy from about 1905, originally meaning “engrossed in sex” . This confirms the formation (sex + -y) and the early meaning related to sex or eroticism.
- 1912 (early 20th century): By the 1910s sexy was occasionally used to mean “sexually attractive.” For example, a 1912 newspaper described a woman as “a universal woman of the real sexy sort,” showing the transition toward physical allure .
- 1923 (or 1920s): The sense “sexually attractive” became common. Notably, silent-film star Rudolph Valentino was famously described as sexy in the early 1920s, and references credit him as the first with that modern connotation .
These developments show sexy evolving from an explicitly sexual (even vulgar) description to one of attractiveness or appeal. By the mid-20th century the “sexually attractive” meaning had become dominant.
Evolution of Meaning Over Time
Initially, sexy simply denoted something pertaining to sex. Etymological sources note that around 1905 it meant “engrossed in sex” . It was slangy and even somewhat taboo at first. Over the next decades its meaning broadened and shifted: by the 1910s–1920s it came to mean “sexually attractive” or “arousing.” One analysis observes that sexy “was first used… in the sense of ‘engrossed in sex’; the sense of ‘sexually attractive’ did not arise until the 1910s–1920s (first in reference to Valentino)” .
As time passed, sexy further broadened. In popular usage it came to describe not just people but any person, object, or idea that is appealing, exciting, or stylish. For example, by the late 20th century people were calling new cars “sexy” when the design was sleek and appealing rather than literally sexual . Advertisers and writers often describe anything especially attractive or modern as “sexy” (e.g. a “sexy new gadget” or “sexy concept”) to imply strong appeal. In fact, media have even compiled lists of the “sexiest cars of all time” , showing how the term has been extended metaphorically to inanimate things. Likewise, People magazine’s first “Sexiest Man Alive” issue in 1985 demonstrates the mainstreaming of the term to denote physical attractiveness or charisma in celebrities .
In sum, sexy began strictly as a sexual descriptor and evolved into a general term for something alluring or desirable – not always explicitly sexual. Today it can refer to physical sex appeal or to anything trendy and attention-grabbing. For instance, a “sexy new smartphone” might simply mean a very cool design, not something erotic. This broad application marks a major shift from the word’s origins.
Shifts in Connotation and Culture
Cultural changes have paralleled the word’s evolution. In the more prudish late-Victorian era (pre-1900), overt sexual language was taboo, so a word like sexy was only used informally or in joke. As norms relaxed in the 20th century (e.g. the Roaring Twenties), sexy entered mainstream speech. Hollywood played a big role: leading men and women were labeled sexy in film publicity. For example, silent-film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino was popularly described as “sexy” by the early 1920s . Mid-century Hollywood sex symbols like Marilyn Monroe famously cultivated a “super-sexy” persona . Monroe’s blonde hair, hourglass figure and breathy voice made her an archetype of sex appeal in the 1950s , showing how sexy had become a cultural ideal for female allure.
At the same time, different subcultures and eras have nuanced the term. In the 1960s–70s, the sexual revolution and changing fashions (miniskirts, revealing styles) made calling something “sexy” increasingly acceptable. By the 1980s and beyond, being “sexy” was almost synonymous with being confident or stylish. Some have criticized the term as objectifying, while others have reclaimed it positively (e.g. body-positivity movements often celebrate diverse definitions of sexy). Advertising and pop culture continue to push the word’s boundaries: advertisers count on sexy imagery to catch the eye (as one study notes, “advertisers use sex because it can be very effective – people are hardwired to notice sexually relevant information” ). Thus sexy not only reflects changes in sexual mores but has become a powerful cultural buzzword for attractiveness and excitement.
Notable Examples in Media and Literature
The word sexy appears in numerous literary and media contexts, illustrating its uses over time. Arnold Bennett’s 1896 letter (quoted above) is often cited as the first print use . In early 20th-century newspapers, writers began using it openly: for instance, a 1912 Colorado Springs Gazette described a lady of “the real sexy sort” . By the 1920s it showed up in Hollywood-related writing. In song lyrics, sexy became common slang by the 1970s – for example, Rod Stewart’s 1978 hit “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” contains the line “If you want my body and you think I’m sexy…” , indicating how natural the word was in pop culture by that time.
In modern advertising and entertainment, sexy is ubiquitous. Magazines and media often celebrate sex appeal explicitly: e.g., People’s annual “Sexiest Man Alive” , sports swimsuit issues, or slogans like Lululemon’s 2024 campaign “This is what sexy looks like” featuring a curvy model (redefining the term’s standards). Even non-human subjects get the label: travel articles sometimes lament a “sexy” tourist attraction to mean exciting, and tech blogs will call a code interface or algorithm “sexy” if it’s ingenious. One cheeky example: Forbes titled an article “Data Scientists: The Definition of Sexy” purely to attract clicks . These examples show that sexy has pervaded everyday language well beyond its literal sexual sense.
Mid-20th-century pin-up illustration. Classic pin-up art (above) epitomized the era’s notion of sex appeal – glamorous, posed figures that reinforced cultural ideals of “allure.” Stars like Marilyn Monroe were heralded as extremely sexy in this period , and such images made the term widely understood as glamorous and desirable.
Contemporary promotional image emphasizing a sensual gaze. Today sexy is often conveyed through visual styling (makeup, fashion, posture) in media and advertising. Advertisers exploit this – as noted by researchers, “sex sells” because people are drawn to sexually relevant cues . In the example above, the dramatic eye makeup and sultry expression are meant to signal high sex appeal and attract attention.
Modern Informal and Marketing Usage
In everyday language and marketing, sexy is extremely versatile. It’s used informally to praise anything from people (“That haircut is so sexy on you!”) to ideas (“That’s a sexy idea”). In slang, derivatives like sexed up or sex it up mean “make more appealing.” For example, one dictionary notes: “to sex up” something means “to make it more sexually attractive” or simply “to make it more exciting or attractive” . (British usage often uses “sexed up” to mean “sensationalized,” as in news that was “sexed up” with lurid details .) These idioms derive directly from sexy but apply broadly – for instance, a tech blog might advise startups to “sex up” a product’s presentation to grab investors’ interest.
In advertising and media, calling a product “sexy” is a well-known tactic. Marketers literally label new models “sexy” to imply desirability. For example, car companies tout “sexy sports cars,” and even printers have been advertised as “sexy” to mean they are sleek and sexy in design. Social media and branding continue this trend: the word sexy is often used in taglines and promotions to catch the audience’s eye. One study found that although sexy ads grab attention, they don’t always sell the product – yet the allure of the word persists.
Across all these contexts – from casual speech to ads – sexy now broadly signals strong appeal, attractiveness, or excitement. Its journey from Victorian-era taboo to everyday slang is a testament to shifting cultural attitudes. The word’s evolution reflects changes in social norms and media: what was once fringe slang for “bawdy” has become one of the English language’s most common compliments for anything considered alluring or stylish .
Sources: Authoritative etymologies and lexicons trace sexy back to sex (Latin sexus) plus -y . Historical usages are documented in dictionaries and contemporary accounts . Modern cultural analysis and media examples are drawn from language blogs, scholarly writing on advertising, and news sources (citations given).