queer
[ kweer ]
/ kwɪər /
usage alert about queer
Since the early 20th century, queer has had the meaning “gay or lesbian,” and for much of the time has been used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting. Since the 1980s, queer has increasingly been adopted especially among younger members of the gay and lesbian community as a positive term of self-reference. However, the term is not universally accepted within the LGBT community, and might still be viewed by some as degrading. Queer is also a term used by activists and academics: queer politics; scholars of queer literature. And the term has more recently come to include any person whose sexuality or gender identity falls outside the heterosexual mainstream or the gender binary. A person identifying as queer can be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gender-fluid, etc., but the use of queer avoids any specific label.
adjective, queer·er, queer·est.
verb (used with object)
noun
Slang.
- Disparaging and Offensive. a term used to refer to a a person who is gay or lesbian.
- a person whose sexual orientation or gender identity falls outside the heterosexual mainstream or the gender binary.
Slang. counterfeit money.
Words nearby queer
Idioms for queer
queer the pitch, British Informal. to spoil the chances of success.
Origin of queer
1500–10; perhaps < German quer oblique, cross, adverse
SYNONYMS FOR queer
OTHER WORDS FROM queer
queer·ly, adverbqueer·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for queer
British Dictionary definitions for queer
queer
/ (kwɪə) /
adjective
noun
informal, taboo a homosexual, usually a male
verb (tr) informal
to spoil or thwart (esp in the phrase queer someone's pitch)
to put in a difficult or dangerous position
Derived forms of queer
queerish, adjectivequeerly, adverbqueerness, nounWord Origin for queer
C16: perhaps from German quer oblique, ultimately from Old High German twērh
usage for queer
Although the term queer meaning homosexual is still considered highly offensive when used by non-homosexuals, it is often used by homosexuals themselves as a positive term, as in queer politics, queer cinema
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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