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
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
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2025
For example, Piper Chapman from Orange Is the New Black is often seen as either straight or lesbian, despite her clear bisexuality.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
During the hearing, Reyes — a Biden appointee and the first out lesbian to serve as district judge for the District of Columbia — excoriated Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer Jason Lynch, asserting that Trump’s order plainly discriminates against trans people in violation of the law.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lesbian
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Adjective
When a 1999 Top 100 list by a gay and lesbian publishing group failed to include Patricia Nell-Warren’s 1974 novel The Front Runner, many readers loudly objected, noting its influence on their own coming-out journeys.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2025
For example, Piper Chapman from Orange Is the New Black is often seen as either straight or lesbian, despite her clear bisexuality.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
Researchers found that they are often labeled as lesbians, despite their attraction to both men and women.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
During the hearing, Reyes — a Biden appointee and the first out lesbian to serve as district judge for the District of Columbia — excoriated Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer Jason Lynch, asserting that Trump’s order plainly discriminates against trans people in violation of the law.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lesbian
Cite this Entry
“Lesbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesbian. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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