App Sexting

Sexting meaning: what the word means and where it comes from

The short answer. Sexting means sending sexually suggestive or explicit messages, photos or videos by phone or messaging app. The word blends 'sex' and 'texting'; a single message is a 'sext.' Between consenting adults it is legal in the US; any sexual image of someone under 18 is illegal under federal law.

Sexting means sending sexually suggestive or explicit messages, photos or videos from one phone to another, usually by text message or through a messaging app. On this site we use the word for exchanges between consenting adults, which covers everything from a flirty line with an innuendo to a long, steamy conversation written together.

Where does the word "sexting" come from?

It is a blend, or portmanteau, of "sex" and "texting," the same way "brunch" blends breakfast and lunch. The word grew up with camera phones and text messaging, and it is now a standard dictionary entry: Merriam-Webster defines sexting as sending sexually explicit messages or images by cell phone.

The word has spawned a small family:

  • Sext (noun): a single message of this kind. "She sent me a sext."
  • Sext (verb): to send one. "They sexted all weekend."
  • Sexter: someone who sexts.
  • Sextortion: extortion using intimate images or messages, a crime, not a variant of sexting.

What counts as sexting?

The word is used broadly. In everyday American usage, sexting includes:

  • Text-only messages with a sexual or suggestive meaning, from teasing to explicit.
  • Voice notes with the same intent.
  • Photos and videos, often called nudes or "spicy pics," whether partially or fully undressed.
  • Emojis used as code, like 🍑 or 🍆, which carry a clear meaning in context.

What defines it is not the platform or how explicit it gets, but the intent: flirting, arousing, or sharing desire with someone over a screen. A lot of sexting, in practice, is words. Our guide to sexting without pics explains why that's also the safest kind.

Closing my eyes and picking up exactly where we left off.

More examples
  • Flirting is broader. Sexting is flirting with a clearly sexual intent, done over a device.
  • Dirty talk usually means saying suggestive things out loud, in person or on a call. Dirty texting is its written cousin; we have tips on dirty texting.
  • Nudes are one possible ingredient of sexting, not a synonym for it.
  • Cybersex is an older term, often used for live, real-time sexual chat online.
  • Sextortion is a crime: threatening to share someone's intimate images or messages to get money, more images or something else.
  • Non-consensual image sharing (sometimes called "revenge porn") means distributing someone's intimate images without their consent.

Between consenting adults, sexting is legal. What is illegal depends on what is shared and with whom:

  • Anything involving minors. Any sexual image of someone under 18 is illegal under federal law, regardless of consent or who took it. Child sexual exploitation should be reported to the NCMEC CyberTipline.
  • Sharing someone's intimate images without consent. Most states have laws against it, and the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act of 2025 also targets publishing intimate images without consent.
  • Threats and extortion. Using intimate content to demand money or anything else is a crime. Adults can report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.

Details vary from state to state, and nothing here is legal advice. Our sexting safety guide lists the US resources to know.

Where to go from here

For the slang, abbreviations and emoji codes you'll meet in these conversations, see our sexting slang guide. To learn how to actually do it well, start with our complete guide to sexting.

Frequently asked questions

What does sexting mean?

Sending sexually suggestive or explicit messages, photos or videos from one device to another, usually by text or messaging app.

What is a sext?

A single sexually suggestive message, photo or video. 'Sext' is also used as a verb: to sext someone.

Where does the word sexting come from?

It's a blend of 'sex' and 'texting,' and it now appears in major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster.

Is sexting the same as sending nudes?

No. Nudes are one possible part of sexting, but a lot of sexting is words, voice notes or emojis.