homosexual
Attracted to same
Homosexual describes sexual attraction to people of one's own sex, or a person who experiences such attraction.
As an adjective, it characterizes desires, relationships, or acts between people of the same sex: a homosexual relationship.
As a noun, it denotes a person with same-sex attractions.
Though once the standard clinical term, homosexual now sounds dated or clinical to many; gay and lesbian are generally preferred in everyday contexts.
The word remains common in legal, medical, and academic writing.
Attracted to same sex
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- dragResistance through fluid
- ballroomVenue for formal dances
- voguePrevailing popular style
camp · diva · disco · bear · twink · otter · leather · gayborhood
Public declaration of identity
- closetedKeeping part of oneself secret
- outNot present here
- self-acceptanceApproval of oneself
- disclosureAct of revealing information
queer · LGBTQ+ · community · visibility · representation · authenticity · self-discovery · pride
Involving identical genders
- attractionPull toward something
- romanticConducive to love
- partnerOne who shares activity
- relationshipConnection between entities
dating · couple · marriage · love · intimacy · affection · companionship · commitment
Woman desiring women
Same status for all
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- adoptionLegal family formation
- anti-discriminationOpposing unfair differential treatment
- hate-crimePrejudice-motivated criminal act
activism · advocacy · Lawrence · asylum · persecution · criminalization
Genetically identical organism
- leathermanHide craftsman or fetishist
- cruisingMoving at relaxed pace
- bathhousePublic washing facility
- PrEPHIV prevention medication
gay
Attracted to same sex
vogue · camp · diva · disco · bear · twink · otter · leather · gayborhood · Stonewall
coming-out
Public declaration of identity
- closetedKeeping part of oneself secret
- outNot present here
- self-acceptanceApproval of oneself
disclosure · queer · LGBTQ+ · community · visibility · representation · authenticity · self-discovery · pride · stigma
same-sex
Involving identical genders
- attractionPull toward something
- romanticConducive to love
- partnerOne who shares activity
relationship · dating · couple · marriage · love · intimacy · affection · companionship · commitment · monogamous
lesbian
Woman desiring women
equality
Same status for all
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- adoptionLegal family formation
- anti-discriminationOpposing unfair differential treatment
hate-crime · activism · advocacy · Lawrence · asylum · persecution · criminalization
clone
Genetically identical organism
- leathermanHide craftsman or fetishist
- cruisingMoving at relaxed pace
- bathhousePublic washing facility
- sexual identitiesgay, lesbian, transgender, queer, asexual
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- LGBTQgay, lesbian, transgender, queer, nonbinary
- LGBTQ+gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, nonbinary
- sexualityerotica, sensuality, lust, eroticism, intercourse
- portmanteausbrunch, smog, motel, spork, chortle
homosexualheterosexual
Attracted to opposite sex
straight · hetero · nonhomosexual · asexual · antihomosexual
homosexualbisexual
Attracted to multiple genders
pansexual · omnisexual · polysexual · multisexual · fluid
- homosexual rightsLegal equality for same-sex attraction