queer-coded

American

[kweer-koh-did] / ˈkwɪərˌkoʊ dɪd /

adjective

(of a fictional character) implied to be LGBT+ through deliberate subtext or use of stereotypes, but never explicitly confirmed to be so.

Even among female audiences, hunks get big bonus points for being gay, or at least queer-coded.
One of the novel's most incongruous elements is its villain, the queer-coded evil baron.

Etymology

Origin of queer-coded

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In a theatrical culture where queer-coded characters were frequently played for ridicule, Bhaduri's work carried a different weight.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Velma may well be an archetype of the queer-coded character for many fans.

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

When she jokes to Mabel that Charles and Oliver going off to have a private "adult conversation" sounds "queer-coded," there's nothing accusatory in her statement, simply curious and friendly.

From Salon • Aug. 22, 2022

Its newest incarnation, "The Matrix Resurrections," features an entire cast of queer-coded characters.

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2021

It gave comic fans some of the silly banter they loved in “Deadpool” and subconsciously spoke to queer moviegoers who shipped “Symbrock,” the fan name for Venom and Brock’s queer-coded relationship, with affecting grace.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023