drag queen

American  

[drag kween] / ˈdræg ˌkwin /

noun

Slang.

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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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”)

Compare meaning

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

• drag queen vs. transvestite

Example Sentences

The turn came in 2014, with the highly publicised victory of Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, Jordan added.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

“The way that conservatives were talking about it, I thought it was going to be drag queen story hour. At one point we were the Trolls,” Fuentes said on his show Tuesday.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2026

The drag queen, who channeled Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher for the stand-up skit, said she hopes pushing herself out of her comfort zone will be the start of a "positive change" for her public speaking.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025

The line also sounds remarkably comfortable coming out of the mouth of a drag queen — one of the many sides of shade served in the generously funny and sharp “Queens of the Dead.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025

Pearl and Moody, looking on in bemusement, didn’t even glance at the screen, and Lexie had interrupted before Trip was halfway through his case for the drag queen.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• bio queen
• drag artist