homo
UK: ˈhəʊməʊ | US: ˈhoʊmoʊ
n. 1. Informal and often offensive shortening of "homosexual."
n. 2. (Biology) Short for "homosexual" or "homologous" in scientific contexts.
n. 3. (Anthropology) Prefix in taxonomic names (e.g., Homo sapiens).
The word "homo" originates from the Greek "homos," meaning "same." It was adopted into Latin as "homo" (meaning "man" or "human being"), creating a semantic duality. In scientific taxonomy, "Homo" refers to the genus of humans, emphasizing shared traits. Later, it was borrowed into English as a prefix (e.g., "homogeneous") and colloquially as a shorthand for "homosexual," though this usage is often considered derogatory. The Greek root reflects the idea of sameness, while the Latin usage shifted toward human identity.
The term "Homo sapiens" distinguishes modern humans from other species.
In chemistry, a homogeneous mixture has uniform composition.
The word "homo" as slang can be offensive; use "gay" or "homosexual" respectfully.
Ancient Greek philosophers explored the concept of "homoios" (similarity) in their works.
The prefix "homo-" appears in terms like "homonym" (words that sound alike but differ in meaning).