adj
homosexual
ho-moh-SEHKS-yoo-uhl
adj
1
Attracted romantically or sexually to people of the same sex.
"The novel follows a homosexual relationship set in 1950s London."
noun
1
A person who is attracted to people of the same sex.
"Older surveys often failed to properly represent homosexuals in their data."
How to Use Homosexual
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA clinical-sounding term for being attracted to the same sex; "gay" and "lesbian" are now more commonly used in everyday speech.
When to use it
"Homosexual" can sound clinical or dated in casual conversation; "gay" or "lesbian" is generally preferred by the community.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more homosexual comparative, homosexuals plural, most homosexual superlative
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The novel follows a _____ relationship set in 1950s London.
Etymology
Coined in German in 1868 by Karl-Maria Kertbeny from Greek homo- ("same") + Latin sexualis, and later carried into English.