homosexuality
noun
ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 
1
now sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below
: sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay
2
now sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below
: sexual activity with another of the same sex
Usage of Homosexuality
Neutral use of the term homosexuality is still somewhat common, especially in technical and formal contexts. Outside of those contexts, however, the word can be seen as evoking negative stereotypes and outdated clinical understandings of homosexuality as a psychiatric condition.
Examples of homosexuality in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Forty years ago, however, the organizers of the first TIFF declined to include the film in its program, with objections from Mishima’s widow to its depictions of the famed right-leaning writer’s homosexuality a major factor.
—
Mark Schilling, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The parents of Silas’s boyfriend, the reader learns, leave their church because of its rejection of homosexuality, and join a more open-minded congregation.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Many White evangelicals are hostile to non-White immigration and belong to denominations that condemn homosexuality.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
More recently, Mamdani stirred controversy by posing with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has expressed opposition to homosexuality.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
What Tuttle wants to attack here is this terrible fork-in-the-road notion that pedophilia and homosexuality stem from the same root.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1990.
—Reuters, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
Later, Noone would tell the authorities that Scott had been fascinated by the famed British mathematician Alan Turing, who died by cyanide poisoning, in what was ruled a suicide, after being prosecuted for his homosexuality.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
The film tells the story of political prisoner Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a man imprisoned for his homosexuality under a dictatorial regime in 1980s Argentina.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Mark Schilling, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The parents of Silas’s boyfriend, the reader learns, leave their church because of its rejection of homosexuality, and join a more open-minded congregation.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Many White evangelicals are hostile to non-White immigration and belong to denominations that condemn homosexuality.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
More recently, Mamdani stirred controversy by posing with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has expressed opposition to homosexuality.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
What Tuttle wants to attack here is this terrible fork-in-the-road notion that pedophilia and homosexuality stem from the same root.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1990.
—Reuters, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
Later, Noone would tell the authorities that Scott had been fascinated by the famed British mathematician Alan Turing, who died by cyanide poisoning, in what was ruled a suicide, after being prosecuted for his homosexuality.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
The film tells the story of political prisoner Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a man imprisoned for his homosexuality under a dictatorial regime in 1980s Argentina.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homosexuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homosexuality. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
homosexuality
noun
ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ə-tē
: sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay
Medical Definition
homosexuality
noun
ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty
ˌhō-mə-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē
plural homosexualities
1
: sexual or romantic attraction to others of one's same sex : the quality or state of being gay
2
: sexual activity with another of the same sex
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