lesbian

[ lez-bee-uhn ]

/ ˈlɛz bi ən /

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See synonyms for lesbian on Thesaurus.com

noun

a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women; a gay woman.
a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively 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 or romantically attracted to people of her own sex or gender.
of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to people of her own sex or gender.

Sometimes Lesbian . erotic; sensual

Lesbian, of or relating to Lesbos.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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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

usage note for lesbian

What's the difference between lesbian and Sapphic? See gay.

Words nearby lesbian

Leroy, lerp, 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. 2023

How to use lesbian in a sentence

The last of the nation’s lesbian bars might not make it to the other side of the pandemic.
Is the Government Just Going to Watch the Restaurant Industry Die?|Elazar Sontag|August 28, 2020|Eater
Growing up lesbian and loving to wear boys clothes, I never read of anyone like me in stories of how women got the right to vote.
History offers hope in the midst of rage|Kathi Wolfe|August 28, 2020|Washington Blade
Corado told the Washington Blade one of the two women making the threats identified herself as the grandmother of a female teenage Casa Ruby client who identifies as a lesbian.
D.C. police investigating threats against Casa Ruby|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|August 26, 2020|Washington Blade
She was the executive producer of the first HBO comedy special featuring a lesbian performer, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and was nominated for a Chloe Award.
Power couple working to elect Biden|Peter Rosenstein|August 20, 2020|Washington Blade

Labeled “Girlstown” in the 90s due to a vibrant lesbian population, Andersonville is a thriving LGBTQ community that’s nestled between Edgewater and Uptown.
Chicago: A Midwestern Jewel for the LGBTQ Community|LGBTQ-Editor|July 11, 2020|No Straight News
It said: “Tonie Tobias, Information Technology, President of GLEN, Gay and Lesbian Employee Network.”
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out||December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She told a story of a fellow employee who identifies as a butch dyke (a lesbian who takes on a more masculine identity).
The LGBT Center That Changed Our Lives|Justin Jones|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And who better to do that with than the actress who is playing the object of said (alleged) lesbian affection in the flick?
Inside the Lifetime Whitney Houston Movie’s Lesbian Lover Storyline|Kevin Fallon|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And as bad as it might be for gay or lesbian people, the discrimination is markedly worse for transgender people.
State of LGBT Rights: Married on Sunday, but Fired on Monday|Gene Robinson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much more common is the African American lesbian couple in the Deep South raising children at or below the poverty line.
State of LGBT Rights: Married on Sunday, but Fired on Monday|Gene Robinson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The style of carving of the cymatium with its astragal should be the Lesbian.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius
Therefore, in forming our judgment of human affairs, we must apply a "Lesbian rule," instead of one that is inflexible.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXVIII. February, 1843. Vol. LIII.|Various
Radical women's groups, even 'lesbian separatists' who wanted to abolish men altogether!
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
She too, loved the handsome Lesbian and refused to leave him despite the brilliant offers made to her on all sides.
An Egyptian Princess, Complete|Georg Ebers
The same day a Persian embassy set out for Memphis on board one of the Lesbian vessels.
An Egyptian Princess, Complete|Georg Ebers

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

Cultural definitions for lesbian

lesbian

A homosexual woman. (See also gay.)

lesbian

Origin of lesbian

usage note for lesbian

Words nearby lesbian

Words related to lesbian

How to use lesbian in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lesbian (1 of 2)

Derived forms of lesbian

Word Origin for lesbian

British Dictionary definitions for lesbian (2 of 2)

Cultural definitions for lesbian