homosexuality

noun

ho·​mo·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

1

now sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below : sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay

2

now sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below : sexual activity with another of the same sex

Usage of Homosexuality

Neutral use of the term homosexuality is still somewhat common, especially in technical and formal contexts. Outside of those contexts, however, the word can be seen as evoking negative stereotypes and outdated clinical understandings of homosexuality as a psychiatric condition.

Examples of homosexuality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just’s management of materials, with its discomfort around homosexuality, makes straightening look like editorial tact. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026

And while homosexuality isn’t outlawed in Egypt, members of the LGBTQ+ community can be prosecuted for violating public decency laws. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

Decades after a deadly virus known as GRID was said to have eradicated homosexuality, a suburban family’s pristine life unravels the day their teenage son starts to uncover the truth. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 25 June 2026

Learning that these behaviors not only exist, but are prevalent in the animal kingdom, Page says, helps debunk what remains a widespread belief among certain humans that homosexuality and transgenderism are unnatural and aberrant. — Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 2026

Despite the fact that homosexuality among men was not decriminalized in England until 1967 (and even then, only partially so), Hockney felt little pressure to hide his sexuality. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 16 June 2026

Japan’s complex attitudes towards homosexuality — at the risk of overly simplifying it, the country is more conservative towards queerness than America in some ways, and more accepting in others —bleed into the media that comes from the country. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026

Many of the crew members are disgusted by Vito's homosexuality, but Phil seems to take special exception to this revelation, going out of his way to demand Tony take him out and becoming violently angered even at the mere mention of Vito's name. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Coming down from the peak of the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ community members were fearful of coming out of the closet through the 1990s due to the ongoing stigma facing homosexuality. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homosexuality

• idiosyncrasy
• nanotechnology
• phenomenology
• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee

Kids Definition

homosexuality

noun

ho·​mo·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ə-tē 

sometimes offensive

: sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay

Medical Definition

homosexuality

noun

ho·​mo·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

plural homosexualities

1

: sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay

2

: sexual activity with another of the same sex