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 Outside of those contexts, however, the word can be seen as evoking negative stereotypes and outdated clinical understandings of homosexuality as a psychiatric condition.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

Only Scorpio is still open, but both served as important spaces for LGBTQ+ people during a time when homosexuality was criminalized. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

The co-hosts will dive deep into the world of animal homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, polyamory and more. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Postwar intellectuals used psychoanalytic ideas in a variety of ways, including to discuss race relations and homosexuality. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2026

Dobson resigned from the American Psychological Association in 1973 over its removal of homosexuality from its list of psychological disorders. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Though enthusiastically gay himself, the director rarely centered his films around homosexuality and homosexual characters. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 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

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