lesbian
UK: ˈlez.bi.ən | US: ˈlez.bi.ən
n. a woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to other women.
adj. relating to or characteristic of lesbians or lesbianism.
The term originates from the Greek island of Lesbos, home to the ancient poet Sappho (6th–7th century BCE), who wrote passionate verses about women. By the 19th century, "Lesbian" was adopted in medical and literary contexts to describe female homosexuality, referencing Sappho’s cultural legacy. The suffix -ian denotes association, forming an adjective/noun meaning "relating to Lesbos" or its inhabitants, later specialized to its modern sense.
She came out as a lesbian during her college years.
The film explores lesbian relationships in the 1920s.
The bookstore has a dedicated section for lesbian literature.
Many lesbian activists fought for marriage equality.
The study focused on mental health in lesbian communities.