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 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

²

/ ˈlɛzbɪən /

noun

1. a female homosexual

adjective

1. of or characteristic of lesbians

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

The last of the nation’s lesbian bars might not make it to the other side of the pandemic.

From Eater

Growing up lesbian and loving to wear boys clothes, I never read of anyone like me in stories of how women got the right to vote.

From Washington Blade

Corado told the Washington Blade one of the two women making the threats identified herself as the grandmother of a female teenage Casa Ruby client who identifies as a lesbian.

From Washington Blade

She was the executive producer of the first HBO comedy special featuring a lesbian performer, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and was nominated for a Chloe Award.

From Washington Blade

Labeled “Girlstown” in the 90s due to a vibrant lesbian population, Andersonville is a thriving LGBTQ community that’s nestled between Edgewater and Uptown.

From No Straight News

It said: “Tonie Tobias, Information Technology, President of GLEN, Gay and Lesbian Employee Network.”

From The Daily Beast

She told a story of a fellow employee who identifies as a butch dyke (a lesbian who takes on a more masculine identity).

From The Daily Beast

And who better to do that with than the actress who is playing the object of said (alleged) lesbian affection in the flick?

From The Daily Beast

And as bad as it might be for gay or lesbian people, the discrimination is markedly worse for transgender people.

From The Daily Beast

Much more common is the African American lesbian couple in the Deep South raising children at or below the poverty line.

From The Daily Beast

The style of carving of the cymatium with its astragal should be the Lesbian.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore, in forming our judgment of human affairs, we must apply a "Lesbian rule," instead of one that is inflexible.

From Project Gutenberg

Radical women's groups, even 'lesbian separatists' who wanted to abolish men altogether!

From Project Gutenberg

She too, loved the handsome Lesbian and refused to leave him despite the brilliant offers made to her on all sides.

From Project Gutenberg

The same day a Persian embassy set out for Memphis on board one of the Lesbian vessels.

From Project Gutenberg