Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

homophile

American  
[hoh-muh-fahyl] / ˈhoʊ məˌfaɪl /

noun

  1. a gay person, especially a gay man.


adjective

  1. advocating or supportive of the interests, civil rights, and welfare of gay people.

    a homophile activist organization.

homophile British  
/ ˈhəʊməˌfaɪl, ˈhɒm- /

noun

  1. a rare word for homosexual

"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

Etymology

Origin of homophile

First recorded in 1945–50; homo- + -phile, on the model of homosexual

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“A whole show could be done on Ernestine Eckstein, who was just a brushstroke in Episode 1, but it was important to highlight that those early homophile movements were very white,” Kijak said.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 22, 2020

In 1968, inspired by the black power slogan “Black Is Beautiful,” Kameny coined the slogan “Gay Is Good,” which a national conference of homophile organizations adopted as its motto.

From New York Times Jun. 2, 2020

Their illustrations were non-threatening: the homophile organisations of the 50s were assimilationist; they wanted to be accepted by society.

From The Guardian Sep. 23, 2018

But who, homophile or homophobe, could resist the winsome Rayon?

From Time Oct. 31, 2013

Harry Hay, a founder of the 1950s homophile Mattachine Society, demanded to “be respected for our differences not for our sameness to heterosexuals.”

From Slate Jul. 1, 2012

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training