gay
of, relating to, or being a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of their own sex or gender: A gay couple strolled by on the boardwalk.
of, relating to, or being a person who is sexually or romantically attracted only to people of their own sex or gender: Gay and bisexual men are both discussed in this study.
of, indicating, or supporting interests or issues pertaining to gay people or the gay community: He gives charitable contributions to a gay organization.
Older Use. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
Older Use. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
Obsolete.
(used especially of women and especially in poetry) beautiful, lofty, noble, or excellent: The learned man hath got the lady gay.
excellent; topnotch: a gay and lofty mind.
Older Use. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season; the Gay Nineties.
Older Use. sexually unrestrained; having loose morals: In the 1930s movie, the baron is referred to as “a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.”
Slang: Older Use. inappropriately forward or bold; overly familiar; reckless: George got gay at the Christmas party and suddenly swept his boss's wife onto the dance floor.
Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. awkward, stupid, or bad.
Usually Offensive.
a person, especially a man, who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the same sex or gender.
a person, especially a man, who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of the same sex or gender.
in a gay manner.
Origin of gay
1usage alert For gay
It has been argued that gay in the sense “awkward, stupid, or bad” is independent of the sexual sense, and therefore not homophobic. This argument is weakened by the fact that the sexual meaning has long been the dominant one, and thus permeates all usages of gay. See also homosexual.
usage note For gay
As more specific labels, gay and lesbian often mean exclusive attraction to the same gender, and may be used in contrast with terms like bisexual. And gay can also be used to refer to only men who are attracted to men (exclusively or not), in contrast to lesbian, which only refers to women. Other terms, such as sapphic for women, are sometimes used to be unambiguously inclusive of people attracted to multiple genders.
Other words from gay
- gay·ness, noun
- non·gay, adjective
Other definitions for Gay (2 of 2)
John, 1685–1732, English poet and dramatist.
a female or male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use gay in a sentence
His former company controller, Gayer, had in the meantime discovered his true avocation.
Gayer was allowed to plead to a single count of lying to a federal official and got off with probation.
Goldstein no doubt could have told Gayer that he was no more likely to find riches in art than Breslin was in entertainment.
Gayer has acknowledged to the media knowing Gristina, but denies having any business dealings with her.
Which might be the only thing gayer than this interview is becoming right now.
Sa nagkahubug sila nagkasadiyà pud, The drunker they got the gayer they became.
A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan | John U. WolffIn his moments of deepest sadness he killed the prefect outright; in gayer mood he contented himself with minotaurizing him.
Unconscious Comedians | Honore de BalzacEdith's friendliness had broken through that; she talked more than was usual with her—was gayer, more friendly.
Fidelity | Susan GlaspellFor the poilus, coming home to find their women folks shabby, said it was gayer at the front.
Paris Vistas | Helen Davenport GibbonsWe all wish it, not that we have any reason to complain of this Princess, but because we hope then to have a gayer Court.
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume I | Karl Ludwig von Pllnitz
British Dictionary definitions for gay (1 of 2)
/ (ɡeɪ) /
homosexual
of or for homosexuals: a gay club
carefree and merry: a gay temperament
brightly coloured; brilliant: a gay hat
given to pleasure, esp in social entertainment: a gay life
a homosexual
Origin of gay
1usage For gay
Derived forms of gay
- gayness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Gay (2 of 2)
/ (ɡeɪ) /
John. 1685–1732, English poet and dramatist; author of The Beggar's Opera (1728)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for gay
Descriptive term for homosexuals.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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