homosexual
1 of 2adjective
ho·mo·sex·u·al ˌhō-mə-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl 
-ˈsek-shəl
1
now sometimes disparaging + offensive, see usage paragraph below : of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to people of one's same sex : gay
2
now sometimes disparaging + offensive, see usage paragraph below : of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between people of the same sex
homosexually adverb now sometimes disparaging + offensive
homosexual
2 of 2noun
plural homosexuals
now often disparaging + offensive, see usage paragraph below : a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of their same sex : a gay person and especially a male gay person
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Hadas Gold And Abeer Salman, CNN, 5 Sep. 2022 The city temporarily removed anti-Semitic signage and Romani street-dwelling groups and relaxed anti-homosexual laws for the benefit of international visitors. Michael Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Locke came of age amid a Victorian wave of gay aestheticism that looked to classical art as inspiration for a new homosexual identity. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022 Gay activists express outrage at the negative depiction of homosexual hand puppets. Chris Norris, SPIN, 13 Aug. 2022 Under his proposal, the Anglican Communion would retain its 1998 resolution defining homosexual relations as inherently sinful, but would not take action to punish provinces that deviated from that teaching. Grayson Quay, The Week, 9 Aug. 2022 Beware, anyone who opposes federally mandating that states treat homosexual and heterosexual relationships identically. Aron Ravin, National Review, 8 Aug. 2022 That’s not even mentioning tournament employees’ lack of working rights, nor the strict laws against homosexual relationships, for example, in the Gulf state, another issue leading many to question its suitability to host the show. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 16 July 2022 American culture was brilliantly exposed — and neutered — through an effeminate homosexual artist’s application of drag. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Billy Eichner, noted homosexual, found himself the target of some odd gossip when a clickbait article touting his relationship with Noelle costar Anna Kendrick went viral. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 19 June 2022 Every single homosexual in our country should be charged with a crime. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 9 June 2022 In 1895, Oscar Wilde had his boyfriend’s father, the Marquess of Queensberry, arrested for accurately suggesting that Wilde was a homosexual. Kyle Smith, National Review, 14 Apr. 2022 Even in his lifetime, this Prussian royal was widely rumored to be a homosexual, though that term wouldn’t be coined till nearly 90 years after his death. NBC News, 18 Oct. 2021 When his roommate at the Naval Academy said jokingly last year that Andrew Atwill was a homosexual, the midshipman told him to cut it out. Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 4 Aug. 2021 That said, my problem is with my younger brother, who is a homosexual. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 6 Apr. 2021 The clip apparently at odds with Harry’s values features Knowles and Nicolosi discussing the treatments Nicolosi uses at the Reintegrative Therapy Association for patients who wish to change their behavior from homosexual to heterosexual tendencies. Michael Lee, Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2021 See More
Adjective
Under Iran's legal system, homosexual acts can be punished by the death penalty. Hadas Gold And Abeer Salman, CNN, 5 Sep. 2022 The city temporarily removed anti-Semitic signage and Romani street-dwelling groups and relaxed anti-homosexual laws for the benefit of international visitors. Michael Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Locke came of age amid a Victorian wave of gay aestheticism that looked to classical art as inspiration for a new homosexual identity. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022 Gay activists express outrage at the negative depiction of homosexual hand puppets. Chris Norris, SPIN, 13 Aug. 2022 Under his proposal, the Anglican Communion would retain its 1998 resolution defining homosexual relations as inherently sinful, but would not take action to punish provinces that deviated from that teaching. Grayson Quay, The Week, 9 Aug. 2022 Beware, anyone who opposes federally mandating that states treat homosexual and heterosexual relationships identically. Aron Ravin, National Review, 8 Aug. 2022 That’s not even mentioning tournament employees’ lack of working rights, nor the strict laws against homosexual relationships, for example, in the Gulf state, another issue leading many to question its suitability to host the show. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 16 July 2022 American culture was brilliantly exposed — and neutered — through an effeminate homosexual artist’s application of drag. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Noun
Yes in 21st century being homosexual is a punishable crime in Iran and now she and Elham Chobdar are sentenced to be executed. Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Billy Eichner, noted homosexual, found himself the target of some odd gossip when a clickbait article touting his relationship with Noelle costar Anna Kendrick went viral. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 19 June 2022 Every single homosexual in our country should be charged with a crime. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 9 June 2022 In 1895, Oscar Wilde had his boyfriend’s father, the Marquess of Queensberry, arrested for accurately suggesting that Wilde was a homosexual. Kyle Smith, National Review, 14 Apr. 2022 Even in his lifetime, this Prussian royal was widely rumored to be a homosexual, though that term wouldn’t be coined till nearly 90 years after his death. NBC News, 18 Oct. 2021 When his roommate at the Naval Academy said jokingly last year that Andrew Atwill was a homosexual, the midshipman told him to cut it out. Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 4 Aug. 2021 That said, my problem is with my younger brother, who is a homosexual. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 6 Apr. 2021 The clip apparently at odds with Harry’s values features Knowles and Nicolosi discussing the treatments Nicolosi uses at the Reintegrative Therapy Association for patients who wish to change their behavior from homosexual to heterosexual tendencies. Michael Lee, Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1894, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing homosexual
Medical Definition
homosexual 1 of 2
adjective
ho·mo·sex·u·al ˌhō-mə-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to individuals of one's same sex : gay
2
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between persons of the same sex
Note: The adjective homosexual has been decreasing in use in published, edited text since the late 20th century, and is now sometimes considered offensive. The term has largely been replaced by gay, which can describe sexual or romantic attraction or activity between men or between women; by lesbian, which applies only to the latter; or by inclusive abbreviations such as LGBT ("lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender").
homosexual
2 of 2noun
: a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of their same sex : a gay person and especially a male gay person
Note: The noun homosexual has seen a decrease in use in published, edited text since the mid-1990s and is now often regarded as offensive; instead, phrases that employ the adjectives gay and lesbian tend to be preferred, as in "a gay man," "a lesbian couple," "gay people," etc.