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 Outside of those contexts, however, the word can be seen as evoking negative stereotypes and outdated clinical understandings of homosexuality as a psychiatric condition.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
Indeed, the American Psychiatric Association actually listed homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1973.
—
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Gay equality activists fought for a long time to depathologize homosexuality, previously classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual up until 1973.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
One of the biggest subjects of censorship is homosexuality, which despite being decriminalized in China has been the target of a government crackdown in recent years, even though surveys shows the public is increasingly supportive of LGBTQ people.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Arthur is intent on hiding his homosexuality, which inevitably complicates his plans to take over his father’s seat in Parliament.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The 2018 movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $14 million at the China box office as part of a global take north of $962M, reportedly had three minutes censored for references to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality and AIDS.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Nepal even put to shame India, the world’s largest democracy, which decriminalized homosexuality in 2018, eleven years after Nepal.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Seen this way, that Giovanni should turn to homosexuality is not a refutation of the novel’s homophobic logic but a confirmation of it.
—Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Charlamagne, taken aback, asked why Dame had such an issue with homosexuality.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Nina Totenberg, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Gay equality activists fought for a long time to depathologize homosexuality, previously classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual up until 1973.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
One of the biggest subjects of censorship is homosexuality, which despite being decriminalized in China has been the target of a government crackdown in recent years, even though surveys shows the public is increasingly supportive of LGBTQ people.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Arthur is intent on hiding his homosexuality, which inevitably complicates his plans to take over his father’s seat in Parliament.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
The 2018 movie Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $14 million at the China box office as part of a global take north of $962M, reportedly had three minutes censored for references to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality and AIDS.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Nepal even put to shame India, the world’s largest democracy, which decriminalized homosexuality in 2018, eleven years after Nepal.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Seen this way, that Giovanni should turn to homosexuality is not a refutation of the novel’s homophobic logic but a confirmation of it.
—Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Charlamagne, taken aback, asked why Dame had such an issue with homosexuality.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homosexuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homosexuality. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
homosexuality
noun
ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ə-tē
: 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
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