homophobia

[hoh-muh-foh-bee-uh]

noun

1. an aversion or hostility to, disdain for, or fear of gay sexual orientation or gay people.

homophobia

/ ˌhəʊməʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality

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

• homophobic adjective
• homophobe noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophobia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophobia¹

C20: from _homo ( _sexual ) + _-phobia

Example Sentences

Through “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” Murphy attempted to critique the homophobia that drove the narrative surrounding the case in the same way he and his team used the O.J.

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Hernández’s androgynous wardrobe and open queerness bring another layer of potential discrimination, but despite the rampant homophobia persistent in present-day Cuba, she doesn’t feel much resistance.

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He acknowledged that the move may attract more homophobia.

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Common sense alone tells us that conversion therapy is being driven more by parents than kids themselves, because homophobia is a learned and not in-born attitude.

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He’s also working to overcome childhood trauma, including his father’s homophobia.

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