Lesbian — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈlez-bē-ən/ les·bi·an

Meaning & Definition of Lesbian

Lesbian (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women
  2. of or relating to Lesbos

Lesbian (noun)

  1. a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women, a gay woman

Word Forms of Lesbian

Inflections: lesbians

Origin & Etymology of Lesbian

(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: 1559

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lesbian

Frequently Asked Questions about Lesbian

What does "Lesbian" mean?

"Lesbian" means of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women. It has 3 distinct senses.

Is "Lesbian" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lesbian" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Lesbian" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Lesbian" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Lesbian"?

"Lesbian" is pronounced /ˈlez-bē-ən/ and divided into syllables as les·bi·an.

What is the origin of the word "Lesbian"?

"Lesbian" comes from (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: 1559.

What does "Lesbian" mean as an adjective?

As an adjective, "Lesbian" means: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women; of or relating to Lesbos.

What does "Lesbian" mean as a noun?

As a noun, "Lesbian" means: a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women, a gay woman.

What CEFR level is "Lesbian"?

"Lesbian" is a C1-level word in SophDict's CEFR vocabulary lists, which group English words from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient).