drag queen

American  

[drag kween] / ˈdræg ˌkwin /

noun

Slang.

• drag queens
  plural

1. a performer, typically one who was assigned male at birth, whose act involves a stylized and exaggerated interpretation of femininity that plays with stereotypical gender themes.

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drag queen British  

noun

1. a male who dresses as a woman and impersonates female characteristics for public entertainment

2. slang a male transvestite

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drag queen Idioms  

1. A male transvestite; also, a female impersonator. For example, He was surprised to find out that Roxanne was actually a drag queen. This term uses the slang noun drag in the sense of “female attire worn by a man” (a usage dating from about 1870; also see in drag). [Offensive slang; c. 1940]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drag queens
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of drag queen

First recorded in 1960–65; drag (in the sense “wearing clothes characteristic with a different sex”) + queen (in the sense “flamboyantly effeminate gay man”)

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Compare meaning

How does drag-queen compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• drag queen vs. transvestite

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drag queen

As evidenced by Tuesday’s announcement, the current tour, starring drag queen Alaska Thunderf— is set to arrive in L.A. next week with sky-high expectations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

One night, at Eataly’s flagship location in the Marais, the drag queen Le Filip, a winner of “Drag Race France,” hosted bingo with her whippet Azur.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

In 2002, at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Parton even replaced the name Jolene with "drag queen" as a crowd of drag performers looked on.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

In 2023, when Texas politicians sought to criminalize many drag performances, Parton backed a drag queen fighting the legislation in a way that was uniquely Dolly.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

“Oh, me too. I think that’s my favorite hair. A drag queen out in Odessa styled that wig for me. Took him a week to get it just right.”

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

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Related Words

• bio queen
• drag artist

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