lesbian

[ lez-bee-uhn ]

noun

1. 1. a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women; a gay woman.
   2. a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to other women; a gay woman.
2. Lesbian, an inhabitant of the island of Lesbos.

adjective

1. 1. of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of her own sex or gender.
   2. of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of her own sex or gender.
2. Sometimes Lesbian. erotic; sensual
3. Lesbian, of or relating to Lesbos.

lesbian

¹

/ ˈlɛzbɪən /

noun

1. a female homosexual

adjective

1. of or characteristic of lesbians

Lesbian

²

/ ˈlɛzbɪən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Lesbos
2. the Aeolic dialect of Ancient Greek spoken in Lesbos

adjective

1. of or relating to Lesbos
2. of or relating to the poetry of Lesbos, esp that of Sappho

lesbian

1. A homosexual woman. ( See also gay .)

Usage Note

What's the difference between lesbian and Sapphic? See gay ( def ).

Derived Forms

• ˈlesbianism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lesbian¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin Lesbi(us) “Lesbian” (from Greek Lésbios, equivalent to Lésb(os) “Lesbos” ( Lesbos ) + -ios adjective suffix) + -an; lesbian defs 1, 3 allude to the poet Sappho of Lesbos, whose verse deals largely with her emotional relationships with other women

Word History and Origins

Origin of lesbian¹

C19: from the homosexuality attributed to Sappho

Example Sentences

Butler, the first lesbian of color in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

I remember all these same things being said about gays and lesbians.

From Los Angeles Times

“We want to show a positive side of lesbians to people,” Zhang said.

From Los Angeles Times

There have been gay, lesbian and bisexual people serving in all the branches of the military for as long as we have had soldiers and sailors in uniform.

From Salon

It’s now different for him to enter LGBTQ+ rooms where lesbians might read him as a straight man or gay men might not recognize him as trans.

From Los Angeles Times