Lesbian

Definition

A woman who is sexually attracted to other women.

Parts of Speech

Noun
Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˈlɛzbiən/
Respelling: LEZ-bee-uhn (with "LEZ" as in "less," "bee" as in "see," and "uhn" as in "button")

British English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˈlɛzbiən/
Respelling: LEZ-bee-uhn (with "LEZ" as in "less," "bee" as in "see," and "uhn" as in "button")

In both dialects, "lesbian" places the primary stress on the first syllable, "LEZ." The pronunciation is the same across both American and British English, focusing on the clear articulation of "LEZ-bee-uhn."

Etymology

The term "lesbian" is derived from the name of the Greek island of Lesbos, home to the ancient Greek poetess Sappho, who wrote romantic and passionate poetry dedicated to women. The connection between Sappho's writings and same-sex attraction led to the use of "lesbian" to describe women attracted to women.

Derivatives

Lesbianism
Lesbo (colloquial, sometimes considered offensive)
Lesbic (rare)
Sapphic (related term)
LGBTQ+ (related community)

Synonyms

Homosexual (when referring specifically to women)
Gay (when referring specifically to women)
Sapphic

Antonyms

Heterosexual
Straight
Bisexual (context-dependent)

Usage

The term "lesbian" is used to describe a woman's sexual orientation and is often used within the LGBTQ+ community to identify women who are attracted to other women. It can also be used as an adjective to describe related aspects, such as lesbian relationships, culture, or history.

Related Terms

LGBTQ+: An acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and others.
Gay: A term primarily used to describe men who are attracted to other men, but sometimes used more broadly.
Queer: An umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or cisgender.

Detailed Definition

Noun

Lesbian (Noun): A woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
- Example: "She came out as a lesbian in her early twenties."