homophobia
Americannoun
noun
Sensitive Note
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 Word Forms
Etymology
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
Explanation
Homophobia is a hatred of or prejudice against gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people. Homophobia takes wildly different forms, from the state-sanctioned homophobia of countries that punish homosexuality with the death penalty, to playground teasing of a child who is labeled "gay" by his peers. The word homophobia literally means "fear of homosexual people," from the Greek roots homos, "one and the same," and phobia, "irrational fear of," and its original use was closer to "fear by heterosexuals of being thought to be gay."
Vocabulary lists containing homophobia
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.
Liberal groups have complained that the event coincides with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024
The video was posted on the embassy’s Facebook page and Twitter account for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
From Washington Times • May 20, 2023
Homophobia was prevalent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s - there were few legal protections and negative social attitudes were common.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2023
"Homophobia and this whole anti-gay sentiment are Western. They are not Ugandan," he said.
From Reuters • Apr. 13, 2023
Their son got his first major introduction to politics in 2001, when he co-founded the Warsaw-based Campaign Against Homophobia after marching in Poland’s first pride parade when he was 25.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
