noun
sodomy
SO-duh-mee
Sodomy (noun) means a legal and historical term for anal or oral sex, sometimes also used for bestiality; historically used to criminalize homosexual acts.
noun
1
A legal and historical term for anal or oral sex, sometimes also used for bestiality; historically used to criminalize homosexual acts.
"Sodomy laws in many countries were used to persecute gay men for decades."
How to use sodomy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old legal term for certain sex acts, historically used in discriminatory laws.
When to use it
Largely a legal/historical term now; considered outdated and loaded when applied to consensual adult relationships.
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Word forms
- Plural
- sodomies
Etymology
Derived from the biblical city of Sodom, described in Genesis as destroyed for its inhabitants' wickedness.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sodomy
roomy
gloomy
economy
anatomy
taxonomy
antinomy
autotomy
autonomy
lobotomy
dichotomy
astronomy
colostomy
See all rhymes for sodomy →
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of sodomy?
"sodomy" (noun) means a legal and historical term for anal or oral sex, sometimes also used for bestiality; historically used to criminalize homosexual acts.
What is another word for sodomy?
Other words for "sodomy" include anal sex, anal intercourse, bestiality, buggery, zooerastia, zooerasty.
How do you use sodomy in a sentence?
Example: "Sodomy laws in many countries were used to persecute gay men for decades."
