What does "homosexual" mean?
A person who is sexually attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.
Homosexual
/ˌhɒməʊˈsɛksjuːəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who is sexually attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.
- Grammar: homosexual is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: gay, homophile, ac-dc, amphierotic.
- Useful contrasts: hetero, heterosexual, straight.
- Usage evidence: Between ourselves, he seems to be a homosexual.
How to use "homosexual"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "homosexual" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "homosexual" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "homosexual" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "homosexual" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "homosexual" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "gay" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "homosexual", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who is sexually attracted solely or primarily to others of the same sex.
"It must not be understood that homosexuality is confined to women. Relationships of this type exist also among men, and in taki-taki are to be found words which are specific designations for male homosexuals, who are termed hantimąn, or awɛge."
- 2 someone who is sexually attracted to persons of the same sex wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Sexually and/or romantically attracted to members of the same sex, such as a man who is attracted to men or a woman who is attracted to women; gay. (Typically used in the sense of sole/exclusive attraction.) formal
"No, it wouldn't make a difference if the applicant was homosexual."
- 2 Between two people of the same sex; gay. formal
"Most western countries have repealed laws against homosexual activity between consenting adults."
- 3 Intended for or used by homosexuals, as a nightclub, a bar, etc. dated
"A petition drive to close all homosexual establishments in response to an assumed general AIDS contagion was begun in late October, according to The Weekly News of Miami."
Adjective
- 1 sexually attracted to members of your own sex wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Between ourselves, he seems to be a homosexual."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "homosexual"?
Common synonyms include: gay, homophile, ac-dc, amphierotic, androgynous, auntie.
How do you use "homosexual" in a sentence?
Between ourselves, he seems to be a homosexual.
How do you pronounce "homosexual"?
Pronounced /ˌhɒməʊˈsɛksjuːəl/.
Etymology
Borrowed from German homosexual, from homo- (“same”) + sexual (“relating to sex or sexuality”), coined by Karl Maria Kertbeny in 1868, and popularized in Richard von Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis (2nd ed. 1887, in German) and Charles Gilbert Chaddock's 1892 English translation thereof (compare bisexual), displacing the slightly older term Uranian. Equivalent to homo- + -sexual.