lesbian

[ lez-bee-uhn ]
/ ˈlɛz bi ən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR lesbian ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman who is sexually attracted to other women; a gay woman.
Lesbian, an inhabitant of the island of Lesbos.

adjective

of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually attracted to members of her own sex.
(sometimes initial capital letter) erotic; sensual
Lesbian, of or relating to Lesbos.

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Origin of lesbian

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin Lesbi(us) “Lesbian” (from Greek Lésbios, equivalent to Lésb(os) “Lesbos” (see Lesbos) + -ios adjective suffix) + -an; defs. 1, 3 allude to the poet Sappho of Lesbos, whose verse deals largely with her emotional relationships with other women

Words nearby lesbian

Leros, Leroy, Lerwick, LES, Le Sage, lesbian, Lesbian cymatium, lesbianism, lesbo, Lesbos, Les Cayes
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to lesbian

homosexual, homoerotic, homophile

Example sentences from the Web for lesbian

British Dictionary definitions for lesbian (1 of 2)

lesbian
/ (ˈlɛzbɪən) /

noun

a female homosexual

adjective

of or characteristic of lesbians

Derived forms of lesbian

lesbianism, noun

Word Origin for lesbian

C19: from the homosexuality attributed to Sappho

British Dictionary definitions for lesbian (2 of 2)

Lesbian
/ (ˈlɛzbɪən) /

noun

a native or inhabitant of Lesbos
the Aeolic dialect of Ancient Greek spoken in Lesbos

adjective

of or relating to Lesbos
of or relating to the poetry of Lesbos, esp that of Sappho
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

Medical definitions for lesbian

lesbian
[ lĕz′bē-ə-n ]

n.

A woman whose sexual orientation is to other women.

adj.

Relating to or being a lesbian.

Other words from lesbian

les′bi•an•ism n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Cultural definitions for lesbian

lesbian

A homosexual woman. (See also gay.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.