adj
lesbian
LEHZ-bee-uhn
adj
1
Describing a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
"She came out as lesbian in her early twenties."
"The film follows a lesbian couple raising twins."
noun
1
A woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
"The bar has been a popular meeting spot for lesbians since the 1980s."
How to Use Lesbian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA woman attracted to other women, or relating to that identity.
When to use it
Neutral and standard as an identity term; avoid using it as an insult or reducing it to a slang shorthand.
Common pairings
a lesbian couple
identify as lesbian
the lesbian community
Word Forms
lesbianed past tense, lesbians singular
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Etymology
From Lesbos, the Greek island home of the ancient poet Sappho, whose verses about women's love gave the word its meaning.