lesbian

1 of 2

adjective

les·​bi·​an ˈlez-bē-ən 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women

gay and lesbian veterans

a lesbian relationship

2

Lesbian : of or relating to Lesbos

lesbian

2 of 2

noun

plural lesbians

: a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women : a gay woman

lesbians and gay men

Examples of lesbian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Over 8,500 respondents identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual (LGB+). —arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025

Even today, gay and lesbian couples face discrimination when seeking to find a child to adopt, working with an agency to find a birth mother, and even in their selection by a birth mother to be the adoptive parents of her child. —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 26 June 2025

Noun

In a new interview with the Daily Mail's YOU Magazine, the Dance Moms alum reflected on previously feeling pressured to come out as a lesbian. —Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 20 June 2025

Siwa publicly identified as a lesbian before growing close with Hughes on the latest season of Celebrity Big Brother UK and subsequently confirming their romantic relationship earlier this month. —Jack Irvin, People.com, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

(sense 1) from association with the ardent poetry written by Sappho of Lesbos (c. 610-c. 580 b.c.) to and about other women in the female religious and educational community she led

First Known Use

Adjective

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1732, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lesbian

noun

les·​bi·​an

ˈlez-bē-ən

: a gay woman

lesbian adjective

lesbianism

-bē-ə-ˌniz-əm

noun

Medical Definition

lesbian

1 of 2 adjective

les·​bi·​an ˈlez-bē-ən 

: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women

gay and lesbian adults

a lesbian relationship

lesbian

2 of 2 noun

: a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women : a gay woman