Definitions for lesbian
ˈlɛz bi ənles·bian

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lesbian, tribade, gay womannoun

   a female homosexual

2. Lesbianadjective

   a resident of Lesbos

3. lesbian, sapphicadjective

   of or relating to or characterized by homosexual relations between woman

GCIDERate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Lesbianadjective

   Homosexual; -- applied to female homosexuals.

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. lesbiannoun

   A homosexual female, a female who is sexually or romantically attracted to other females.

2. lesbianadjective

   Homosexual; preferring female romantic or sexual partners.

   She is lesbian.

3. lesbianadjective

   Homosexual, specifically between two women.

4. lesbianadjective

   Intended for lesbians.

   We're going to a lesbian bar tonight.

5. Lesbiannoun

   An inhabitant of Lesbos

6. Lesbiannoun

   A homosexual woman.

7. Lesbianadjective

   Of or pertaining to the island of Lesbos.

   She is lesbian.

8. Lesbianadjective

   (used of women) Homosexual.

9. Etymology: From Lesbius + adjective suffix -an, from Latin adjective suffix -anus, -ana. The sense of ‘homosexual’ is a reference to Sappho, a famous Lesbian and lesbian poet.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Lesbian

   A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexuality or same-sex attraction. The concept of "lesbian" to differentiate women with a shared sexual orientation evolved in the 20th century. Throughout history, women have not had the same freedom or independence as men to pursue homosexual relationships, but neither have they met the same harsh punishment as homosexual men in some societies. Instead, lesbian relationships have often been regarded as harmless, unless a participant attempts to assert privileges traditionally enjoyed by men. As a result, little in history was documented to give an accurate description of how female homosexuality was expressed. When early sexologists in the late 19th century began to categorize and describe homosexual behavior, hampered by a lack of knowledge about homosexuality or women's sexuality, they distinguished lesbians as women who did not adhere to female gender roles. They classified them as mentally ill—a designation which has been reversed since the late 20th century in the global scientific community. Women in homosexual relationships in Europe and the United States responded to the discrimination and repression either by hiding their personal lives, or accepting the label of outcast and creating a subculture and identity. Following World War II, during a period of social repression when governments actively persecuted homosexuals, women developed networks to socialize with and educate each other. Gaining greater economic and social freedom allowed them to determine how they could form relationships and families. With second-wave feminism and the growth of scholarship in women's history and sexuality in the late 20th century, the definition of lesbian broadened, leading to debate about the term's use. While research by Lisa M. Diamond identified sexual desire as the core component for defining lesbians, some women who engage in same-sex sexual activity may reject not only identifying as lesbians but as bisexual as well. Other women's self-identification as lesbian may not align with their sexual orientation or sexual behavior. Sexual identity is not necessarily the same as one's sexual orientation or sexual behavior, due to various reasons, such as the fear of identifying their sexual orientation in a homophobic setting. Portrayals of lesbians in the media suggest that society at large has been simultaneously intrigued and threatened by women who challenge feminine gender roles, as well as fascinated and appalled with women who are romantically involved with other women. Women who adopt a lesbian identity share experiences that form an outlook similar to an ethnic identity: as homosexuals, they are unified by the heterosexist discrimination and potential rejection they face from their families, friends, and others as a result of homophobia. As women, they face concerns separate from men. Lesbians may encounter distinct physical or mental health concerns arising from discrimination, prejudice, and minority stress. Political conditions and social attitudes also affect the formation of lesbian relationships and families in the open.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lesbian

   A lesbian is a woman who is sexually and/or romantically attracted to other women. The term is used to describe a woman's sexual orientation, in which her emotional, romantic, sexual, and affectional attractions are predominantly towards other women. The term is also sometimes used more broadly to refer to any female-identified individuals attracted to other female-identified individuals.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Lesbianadjective

   of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago

FreebaseRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. Lesbian

   Lesbian is the term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic attraction between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an adjective, to describe characteristics of an object or activity related to female same-sex attraction. "Lesbian" as a concept, used to differentiate women with a shared sexual orientation, is a 20th-century construct. Throughout history, women have not had the same freedom or independence to pursue homosexual relationships as men, but neither have they met the same harsh punishment as homosexual men in some societies. Instead, lesbian relationships have often been regarded as harmless and incomparable to heterosexual ones unless the participants attempted to assert privileges traditionally enjoyed by men. As a result, little in history has been documented to give an accurate description of how female homosexuality has been expressed. When early sexologists in the late 19th century began to categorize and describe homosexual behavior, hampered by a lack of knowledge about the female homosexuality or women's sexuality, they distinguished lesbians as women who did not adhere to female gender roles and incorrectly designated them mentally ill - a designation which has been reversed in the global scientific community.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Lesbian

   les′bi-an, adj. pertaining to the island of Lesbos in the Ægean Sea, and the adjoining part of the coast of Asia Minor, together forming Æolis, the home of a famous school of lyric poets, including Alcæus and Sappho: amatory, erotic.

Anagrams for lesbian »

1. ansible

2. bilanes

How to pronounce lesbian?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say lesbian in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of lesbian in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of lesbian in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of lesbian in a Sentence

1. Alison Bechdel:

   Political is personal; personal is political. I never was a political person until I realized I was a lesbian. I was this oblivious middle-class white kid who didn’t understand the powers of oppression or structure or anything. My very existence became politicized for me and that’s what enabled me to see all these things. It wasn’t just me, it was a whole cultural movement that was also doing those things that I was a part of.

2. Maina Kiai:

   Other countries should follow and allow the registration of organizations advocating for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

3. Fran Lebowitz:

   Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don't are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn't put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.

4. Amy Jacobson:

   Heather was the beginning of the process of us realizing as a lesbian couple that there were going to be many battles, and we just had to do them, 'Heather' paved some way but there was a lot 'Heather' couldn't do that we had to just do.

5. Barbara Streisand:

   When Pat Buchanan thundered, and I quote, We stand with George Bush against the amoral idea that gay and lesbian couples should have the same standing in law as married men and women, I wondered: Who is Pat Buchanan to pronounce anybody's love invalid?

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