homosexual
pronunciation
How to pronounce homosexual in British English:
UK [ˌhəʊməˈsekʃuəl]
How to pronounce homosexual in American English:
US [ˌhoʊməˈsekʃuəl]
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- Noun:
- someone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex
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- Adjective:
- sexually attracted to members of your own sex
Word Origin
- homosexual
- homosexual: see homeopathy
- homosexual (adj.)
- 1892, in C.G. Chaddock's translation of Krafft-Ebing's "Psychopathia Sexualis," from German homosexual, homosexuale (by 1880, in Gustav Jäger), from homo-, comb. form of Greek homos "same" (see homo- (1)) + Latin-based sexual."Homosexual" is a barbarously hybrid word, and I claim no responsibility for it. It is, however, convenient, and now widely used. "Homogenic" has been suggested as a substitute. [H. Havelock Ellis, "Studies in Psychology," 1897] Sexual inversion (1883) was an earlier clinical term for it in English. The noun is recorded by 1895. In technical use, either male or female; but in non-technical use almost always male. Slang shortened form homo first attested 1929. See also uranian.
Example
- 1. This compares with at least six openly homosexual representatives .
- 2. So parents probably need not worry that recognizing gay marriage will increase the likelihood of their child 's turning out to be homosexual .
- 3. The ancient hindu scriptures describe the homosexual condition to be a biological one , and although the scripture gives guidance to parents on how to avoid procreating a homosexual child , it does not condemn the child as unnatural .
- 4. Jim used to be homosexual .
- 5. No one knows why some people are homosexual .