lesbian

1 of 2

adjective

les·​bi·​an ˈlez-bē-ən How to pronounce lesbian (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
On the upstairs and downstairs patios, bargoers indulge in the great lesbian pastimes of smoking Marlboro Reds and American Spirits. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2026 Some scenes in the movie are light and silly, including those pairing Maddie with a lesbian friend, played by Kate Berlant, who clearly loves her. The Week Us, TheWeek, 30 June 2026
Noun
Most gay hotspots felt a little too focused on gay men, and her lesbian and trans peers found themselves in a sort of limbo. Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 At the same time, sports stars such as the former tennis champion Martina Navratilova—a lesbian who is a longtime LGBTQ-rights campaigner—have been ostracized after speaking in favor of restricting the women’s category to biological females. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lesbian

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lesbian was in 1559

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lesbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesbian. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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 How to pronounce lesbian (audio)
: 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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