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 screening — preceded by a showing of Leone DiSantis’s Bound-esque short film Wild Ones — was a rowdy affair punctuated by wolf whistles, whoops, and bursts of laughter at every lesbian joke. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 8 June 2026

Across the lineup, cineastes can find stories about gay and lesbian life, the Ukraine war, as well as such topics as suicide and trauma. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026

Noun

There are no jokes about race or religion, and very few about gays and lesbians. —David MacK, CNN Money, 10 June 2026

Spielberg was also criticized for toning down the book’s portrait of a lesbian relationship. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026

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