Sapphic

[ saf-ik ]

adjective

1. Sometimes sap·phic.
   1. lesbian ( def 3 ).
   2. of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women, used especially as an umbrella term for all women who are attracted to women.
2. pertaining to Sappho or to certain meters or a form of strophe or stanza used by or named after her.

noun

1. Greek Literature. a verse using certain meters or forms used by or named after Sappho.
2. Slang. Sometimes sap·phic. a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women.

Sapphic

/ ˈsæfɪk /

adjective

1. prosody denoting a metre associated with Sappho, consisting generally of a trochaic pentameter line with a dactyl in the third foot
2. of or relating to Sappho or her poetry
3. lesbian

noun

1. prosody a verse, line, or stanza written in the Sapphic form

Usage Note

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sapphic¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin sapphicus, from Greek sapphikós, equivalent to Sapph(ṓ) the name of a famous Greek poet ( Sappho ( def ) ) + -ikos adjective suffix; -ic

Example Sentences

Crossing the pond sometime later this year on Hulu: “I Kissed a Girl,” this show’s sapphic sister.

From Los Angeles Times

Television wasn’t always so sapphic, which is why Showtime’s pioneering series about a group of West Hollywood lesbians and bisexual women is worth revisiting.

From Los Angeles Times

Sapphic Pride: For the third year in a row, we’ll be celebrating pride with insane performances, games, music and more at Seattle’s event for queer women and sapphics.

From Seattle Times

And though they’ve got two bumbling henchmen in pursuit, these gal pals live, laugh and ladylove their way through every Sapphic saloon south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

From Seattle Times

And though they’ve got two bumbling henchmen in pursuit, these gal pals live, laugh and lady-love their way through every sapphic saloon south of the Mason-Dixon line.

From Los Angeles Times