Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

homosexuality

noun
Save Word
ho·​mo·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty | \ ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē How to pronounce homosexuality (audio) \

Definition of homosexuality

1 : sexual attraction or the tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex : the quality or state of being homosexual
2 : sexual activity with another of the same sex

Examples of homosexuality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Now Harris was arguing that her case did not provide precedent for Bostock or Zarda, who were fired not for failing to conform to stereotypes but simply for possessing the distinct trait of homosexuality. — Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, "The Supreme Court Considers L.G.B.T. Rights, but Can’t Stop Talking About Bathrooms," 9 Oct. 2019 Both my sister-in-law and her fiance come from cultures that are not accepting of homosexuality. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: DNA results reveal secret half-sibling," 14 Aug. 2019 Tony Kushner’s monumental two-part play about homosexuality and the age of AIDS. — BostonGlobe.com, "Ron Leibman, Tony winner for ‘Angels,’ dead at 82 - The Boston Globe," 9 Dec. 2019 Tony Kushner’s monumental two-part play about homosexuality and the age of AIDS. — Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, "Ron Leibman, Tony Winner for ‘Angels,’ Is Dead at 82," 6 Dec. 2019 His research in the 1990s linked a marker on the X chromosome with male homosexuality. — Lindsey Tanner, Anchorage Daily News, "Genetics linked to same-sex behavior, but there is no ‘gay gene,’ huge study indicates," 29 Aug. 2019 Peppered with Jamaican patois, the tome defies convention with themes of reluctant motherhood, homosexuality and the realities of immigration. — Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, "Great Summer Beach Reads: 5 Sizzling Reads To Crack Open Now," 23 July 2019 At that time in the mid-'90s, Iran was a relatively new fundamentalist Islamic state with harsh punishments for things like homosexuality and improper head coverings, many of which are still in place today. — Rachel Lubitz, refinery29.com, "I Was Arrested For Having Long Hair. Now I'm In A Pantene Ad.," 30 June 2019 The truth is the Church has tried to grapple with the question of homosexuality and moral indifference for quite a while now. — Andrew Sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Why We Should Say Yes to Drugs," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'homosexuality.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of homosexuality

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about homosexuality

Time Traveler for homosexuality

Time Traveler

The first known use of homosexuality was in 1892

See more words from the same year

Statistics for homosexuality

Last Updated

15 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Homosexuality.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homosexuality. Accessed 25 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for homosexuality

homosexuality

noun
ho·​mo·​sex·​u·​al·​i·​ty | \ ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē How to pronounce homosexuality (audio) \
plural homosexualities

Medical Definition of homosexuality

1 : the quality or state of being homosexual
2 : erotic activity with another of the same sex

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on homosexuality

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with homosexuality

Spanish Central: Translation of homosexuality

Nglish: Translation of homosexuality for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of homosexuality for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homosexuality

Comments on homosexuality

What made you want to look up homosexuality? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

lackluster

Listen to the pronounciation of lackluster

dull or mediocre

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Intact Latin Quiz

  • roman tablet
  • What did focus mean in Latin?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games