homosexuality

== English == === Etymology === From homosexual +‎ -ity, equivalent to homo- +‎ sexuality and after the model of German Homosexualität, coined by journalist Karl Maria Kertbeny in 1869, and French homosexualité, attested in 1891. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˌhoʊməˌsɛkʃuˈælɪti/, /ˌhoʊmoʊˌsɛkʃuˈælɪti/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌhəʊmə(ʊ)sɛkʃʊˈælɪti/, /ˌhəʊmə(ʊ)ˌsɛksjʊˈælɪti/, /ˌhɒmə(ʊ)-/ Rhymes: -ælɪti === Noun === homosexuality (uncountable) The state of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to persons of the same sex, sometimes (potentially offensive) restricted to same-sex attraction between males. [1892] Sexual activity with a person of the same sex, sometimes (potentially offensive) restricted to same-sex sex between males. [1897] ==== Usage notes ==== As homosexuality in women is also known as lesbianism, the term homosexuality can be used with particular reference to male homosexuality, although such usage can be considered sexist. Different cultural constructions of same-sex love are collectively referred to as homosexualities. ==== Synonyms ==== gayness, homosexualism, urningism, uranism (obsolete), SSAD (obsolete), inversionism (obsolete) ==== Antonyms ==== heterosexuality straightness (slang) ==== Hypernyms ==== queerness ==== Hyponyms ==== lesbianism (women) ==== Coordinate terms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== homosexual homoromanticism homoflexibility homogenitality ==== Translations ==== === See also === LGBT, GLBT gay lesbian === References === “homosexuality, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.