homosexual
homosexual Lexical Profile
homosexual Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of one's own sex or gender.
"The sociological study examined the legal rights of homosexual couples across different countries."
• noun
A person who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of their own sex or gender.
"The historical documentary chronicled the struggles faced by homosexuals in the mid-twentieth century."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'homosexual' remains acceptable in formal, legal, or clinical contexts, in everyday usage the terms 'gay' and 'lesbian' are generally preferred, especially when referring to people, as the noun form 'a homosexual' can sound overly clinical or dated.
• Rhymes for homosexual
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1869 by the Austrian-born writer Karl-Maria Kertbeny in a German pamphlet advocating the repeal of anti-sodomy laws, combining the Greek prefix 'homo-' (meaning 'same') with the Latin root 'sexus' (meaning 'sex').