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

The show, which Rose developed with director Elina Street, spotlights the couple dozen lesbian bars remaining in the U.S. — a handful compared with the hundreds that existed decades ago. —Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2024

Now the holidays also commemorate your lesbian daughter coming out. —Jennifer Thuy Vi Nguyen, Longreads, 11 June 2024

Noun

One girl who was a lesbian, Kolberg said, was treated horribly. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2024

Her eldest daughter, Max, 20, came out as bisexual in June 2020, and her 17-year-old daughter, Kat, came out as a lesbian in their family text message chain one year later. —Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024

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