This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
homophobia
[ hoh-muh-foh-bee-uh ]
/ ˌhoʊ məˈfoʊ bi ə /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
an aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or fear of gay sexual orientation or gay people.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of homophobia
First recorded in 1960–65; homo(sexual) + -phobia; popularized by the American psychologist George Weinberg (1929–2017); an earlier sense “fear of men or humankind” was first recorded in the 1920s, from Latin homō “man, human being” + -phobia
usage note for homophobia
The combining form -phobia is used in some words that describe intolerance toward a group of people as defined by nationality, ancestry, sexual identity or orientation, creed, or race: homophobia , Islamophobia , transphobia . Though there is an element of fear when interacting with the unknown or the Other, words in this category are not primarily about anxiety; rather, these terms are commonly associated with hatred or disgust. The use of -phobia words to indicate hostility toward groups of people is therefore frequently criticized. Advocates and activists representing these groups recommend using the prefix anti- instead, in words such as antigay , anti-Islam , antitrans .
OTHER WORDS FROM homophobia
ho·mo·pho·bic, adjectiveWords nearby homophobia
Homoousian, homophil, homophile, homophily, homophobe, homophobia, homophone, homophones, homophonic, homophonous, homophony
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use homophobia in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for homophobia
homophobia
/ (ˌhəʊməʊˈfəʊbɪə) /
noun
intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality
Derived forms of homophobia
homophobe, nounhomophobic, adjectiveWord Origin for homophobia
C20: from homo (sexual) + -phobia
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