gay

UK: ɡeɪ | US: ɡeɪ

Definition

  1. adj. 1. (of a person) homosexual (especially referring to men).

  2. adj. 2. (archaic) lighthearted, carefree, or brightly cheerful.

  3. adj. 3. (dated) showy or brightly colored.

Structure
gay <joyful, bright>
Etymology

The word "gay" originated from Old French gai ("joyful, merry"), likely derived from a Germanic source (compare Old High German gāhi "swift, impetuous"). Its original meaning referred to cheerfulness or vibrancy, later evolving to describe flamboyance (18th–19th centuries). By the mid-20th century, it became the predominant term for homosexuality—a semantic shift influenced by underground slang reclaiming the word’s earlier connotations of freedom from societal norms.

Examples

  1. The party was full of gay laughter and music. (archaic sense)

  2. She wore a gay dress with floral patterns. (dated sense)

  3. He came out as gay during his college years.

  4. The film explores gay rights movements in the 1980s.

  5. "Gay" in modern usage primarily denotes LGBTQ+ identity.