homosexuality

American  

[hoh-muh-sek-shoo-al-i-tee, -seks-yoo-] / ˌhoʊ məˌsɛk ʃuˈæl ɪ ti, -ˌsɛks yu- /

noun

Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.

1. sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of one's own sex or gender.

2. the state of being sexually attracted only to people of one's own sex or gender.

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homosexuality British  

/ ˌhɒm-, ˌhəʊməʊˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. sexual attraction to or sexual relations with members of the same sex Compare heterosexuality

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homosexuality Cultural  

1. A sexual attraction between persons of the same sex. (See gay and lesbian; compare heterosexuality.)

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Usage

Is “homosexuality” offensive? See homosexual.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antihomosexuality
  noun

Etymology

Origin of homosexuality

First recorded in 1890–95; homo- + sexuality

Example Sentences

What interested him was politics, literature and exploring his homosexuality.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

It was only a few weeks before his death in August 1967 that homosexuality was partially decriminalized in England.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

As homosexuality was still illegal, these paintings also defended a way of life.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Likewise, at a time when homosexuality was charged as a crime and classified as a mental illness, plenty of men who loved men married women, and plenty of women who loved women married men.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

The funny part of it is we went to high school together for four years, and yet we never talked about homosexuality.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove