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

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

Other Word Forms

• lesbianism 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

Paging through newspaper stories about the festival while it was running, outlet after outlet felt the need to qualify that Lilith wasn’t a “lesbian gathering.”

From Salon

In your special, you talk about battling the lesbian energy that you get labeled with in comedy, but I’m guessing that also happened in the construction gig?

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, 53% of Reform voters believe that attempts to give equal opportunities for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have "gone too far".

From BBC

California law requires students learn and be provided instructional materials that explain the “role and contributions” of, among others, “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the 1960s, an encounter with extraterrestrials leaves an interracial couple grappling with their experiences while a lesbian couple fashions their own love story in a time of queer repression.

From Los Angeles Times