adj
closeted
KLO-zih-tihd
Closeted (adj) means not open about one's sexual orientation or gender identity. Example: “He remained closeted at work for years before coming out to colleagues.”
adj
1
Not open about one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
"He remained closeted at work for years before coming out to colleagues."
"Sally Gearhart, an ex-christian from Illinois who in the early seventies abandoned closeted lesbianism on Midwestern church college faculties for radical feminism in San Francisco,"
— Jil Clark, Spirituality vs. Politics (1979)
2
Shut away in private, often for a serious discussion.
"The negotiators stayed closeted in the boardroom until well past midnight."
How to use closeted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKept hidden or shut away privately — today used mostly about someone not openly out about their sexuality.
Common pairings
closeted gay man
closeted in a meeting
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more closeted
- Superlative
- most closeted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He remained _____ at work for years before coming out to colleagues.
Etymology
From closet plus the adjective-forming suffix -ed.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for closeted
See all rhymes for closeted →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of closeted?
"closeted" (adj) means not open about one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
What is the opposite of closeted?
The opposite of "closeted" is out.
What are the different meanings of closeted?
"closeted" has 2 main meanings: 1. Not open about one's sexual orientation or gender identity; 2. Shut away in private, often for a serious discussion.
How do you use closeted in a sentence?
Example: "He remained closeted at work for years before coming out to colleagues."
