Word

lesbian

noun C1

/ˈlɛz.bi.ən/

Meanings

noun

a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted to other women

adjective

relating to women who are romantically and sexually attracted to other women

Definition

A lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted to other women.

A lesbian is a woman whose romantic and sexual attraction is primarily toward women. The word describes a sexual orientation and can be used as a noun or an adjective. It is a neutral term, and people may use it as part of how they describe their identity.

Examples

She came out as a lesbian in college and found the language helped her explain her feelings clearly.
I met a lesbian couple at the conference, and they offered thoughtful advice about building inclusive teams.
They invited a lesbian author to speak, and her talk sparked a nuanced discussion about identity and culture.
He realized his sister is a lesbian and made a point of asking how he could be supportive in everyday ways.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use "lesbian" for any LGBTQ+ person, but it specifically refers to women attracted to women.