homosexual

[ hoh-muh-sek-shoo-uhl or, especially British, -seks-yoo- ]

adjective
  1. Often Disparaging and Offensive. sexually attracted to people of one's own sex or gender; gay: homosexual couples.

  2. Often Disparaging and Offensive. of or relating to sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of one's own sex or gender.

  1. Archaic. of, relating to, or noting the same sex: She gave birth to homosexual twins.

noun
  1. Often Disparaging and Offensive.

    • a person, especially a man, who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex or gender.

    • a person, especially a man, who is sexually attracted exclusively to people of the same sex or gender.

Origin of homosexual

1
First recorded in 1890–95; homo- + sexual

usage alert For homosexual

Up until 1973, homosexuality was listed in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), psychiatry's standard reference on the classification of mental illness. People aware of this former categorization feel that the term homosexual still carries a negative connotation. And many feel that this word places undue emphasis on sexual activity, or that it sounds overly clinical. In fact, homosexual as an adjective and noun has been mostly replaced by gay except in medical or other formal contexts. People who still use homosexual are usually unaware that the term is a sensitive one, although some do use it with intent to cause offense. However, not all members of the gay community object to it. See also gay.

Other words from homosexual

  • an·ti·ho·mo·sex·u·al, adjective

Words Nearby homosexual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use homosexual in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for homosexual

homosexual

/ (ˌhəʊməʊˈsɛksjʊəl, ˌhɒm-) /


noun
  1. a person who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex

adjective
  1. of or relating to homosexuals or homosexuality

  2. of or relating to the same sex

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012