homophobia

[ hoh-muh-foh-bee-uh ]

noun

1. an aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or fear of gay sexual orientation or gay people.

homophobia

/ ˌhəʊməʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality

Sensitive Note

The combining form -phobia is used in some words that describe intolerance toward a group of people as defined by nationality, ancestry, sexual identity or orientation, creed, or race: homophobia , Islamophobia , transphobia . Though there is an element of fear when interacting with the unknown or the Other, words in this category are not primarily about anxiety; rather, these terms are commonly associated with hatred or disgust. The use of -phobia words to indicate hostility toward groups of people is therefore frequently criticized. Advocates and activists representing these groups recommend using the prefix anti- instead, in words such as antigay , anti-Islam , antitrans .

Derived Forms

• ˌhomoˈphobic, adjective
• ˈhomoˌphobe, noun

Other Words From

• ho·mo·pho·bic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophobia¹

First recorded in 1960–65; homo(sexual) + -phobia; popularized by the American psychologist George Weinberg (1929–2017); an earlier sense “fear of men or humankind” was first recorded in the 1920s, from Latin homō “man, human being” + -phobia

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophobia¹

C20: from homo ( sexual ) + -phobia

Example Sentences

Soraya Chemaly, author of the appropriately named "Rage Becomes Her," pointed out to me that other forms of oppression, like racism and homophobia, rely on marginalization.

From Salon

In his view, Britain was "more concerned with racism than homophobia" at the time - but he remembers realising that the language of racism and homophobia were similar.

From BBC

Democrats are often accused by the pundits of being the ones who practice "identity politics," usually when they note the real world impacts of sexism, racism, and homophobia on real people.

From Salon

The numerous actors and performers detail excruciating details of drug and alcohol abuse, child labor exploitation and an industry rife with homophobia and exclusion.

From Salon

It wasn’t till I got to college that I actually realized, as Zirin notes, that “homophobia is baked so deeply into the cake of football.”

From Salon