lesbian
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for lesbian, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Describing a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use lesbian
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and standard as an identity term; avoid using it as an insult or reducing it to a slang shorthand.
Etymology
From Lesbos, the Greek island home of the ancient poet Sappho, whose verses about women's love gave the word its meaning.
Full origin of lesbian →Frequently asked questions
Is "lesbian" an adjective or a noun?
"Lesbian" works as both. As an adjective it describes a woman attracted to other women ("a lesbian couple"), and as a noun it refers to such a woman ("she is a lesbian").