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Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on June 27, 2021
A lesbian is a woman who is physically and romantically attracted to other women. Lesbianism is a form of homosexuality.
The first mention of lesbianism in history is in the Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian code of laws from around 1700 B.C. that allowed women to marry each other.
The word “lesbian” comes from the name of the Greek island Lesbos, where Sappho was born. She was an ancient Greek woman who wrote poems that included homosexual themes. The term “sapphic,” named for this poet, also refers to female homosexuality.
Lesbians may also refer to themselves as gay women or simply as gay.
In years past, “queer” was a derogatory term used toward lesbians, gay people, and others in the LGBTQ community. But some younger members of the community have reclaimed the term. Some lesbians may identify as queer. In general, queer simply means someone who isn’t straight.
Some people may think that because lesbians aren’t sexually or romantically attracted to men, they hate them. But most lesbians have friendships and professional relationships with men.
Another myth is that one person in a lesbian relationship must take on the role of the man. One partner may play a more traditionally masculine role, but that isn’t necessarily the norm. Each relationship is different. The gender dynamic depends on the specific people involved and how they interact with each other.
There are also stereotypes that lesbians like to wear flannel shirts, or that they are athletic and enjoy playing sports. But you can’t identify a lesbian by what type of clothes they wear or what activities they choose.
Lesbians are at a higher risk for certain health problems than straight women. For example, they have higher odds of breast cancer yet are less likely to get a mammogram . Anyone with breasts should talk to their doctor about proper breast cancer screening.
Studies also show that lesbian couples are more likely to face domestic violence. This is in contrast to the public perception that there’s much less intimate partner violence in the LGBTQ community.
Lesbians are more likely to misuse drugs and alcohol , which can lead to health problems like cancer . They’re also more likely to be obese, a risk factor for health conditions like heart disease .
Lesbian women may be underserved by gynecologists and other sexual health providers who don’t understand the LGBTQ community and its needs. Many of these issues are brought on or made worse by discrimination and barriers to services like a lack of proper training about LGBTQ people.
Coming out is the process of revealing your sexuality to friends and family. It should always be your own personal decision. You might do it all at once with a big announcement, or you could tell people one at a time as you feel comfortable.
If you aren’t sure how someone in your life will react to you telling them you’re a lesbian, you might try finding out what they think about other lesbians. You can:
If you choose to come out, remember that there’s no perfect way to do it. Some experts suggest picking the time and place that makes you feel the safest and most comfortable.
Plan for difficult questions that may come up. Think about how you’ll respond to a variety of reactions from the people you’re telling. You may want to prepare a list of links to information that friends and family can easily and quickly read.
You might tell people that you’re a lesbian by:
Many people who come out are accepted by their loved ones, but some aren’t. It can sometimes lead to unsafe conditions. If you think this may happen, consider having a plan for transportation, food, and housing where you can be safe after coming out.
GLAAD: “GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Lesbian / Gay / Bisexual Glossary Of Terms.”
LGBT Project Wiki: “History of Lesbianism.”
Cosmopolitan: “9 Lesbian Myths Debunked.”
Teen Vogue: “10 Myths About Lesbians You Need to Stop Believing Now.”
Frontiers in Psychology : “When Intimate Partner Violence Meets Same Sex Couples: A Review of Same Sex Intimate Partner Violence.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Health Issues.”
The Trevor Project: “Coming Out Handbook.”
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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les·bi·an

| \ ˈlez-bē-ən

\

1

[from association with the ardent poetry written by Sappho of Lesbos (c. 610-c. 580 b.c.) to and about other women in the female religious and educational community she led]

: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women

gay and lesbian veterans a lesbian relationship

2

Lesbian

: of or relating to Lesbos

: a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women : a gay woman

lesbians and gay men

Organizations, bars, restaurants, museums, theaters and a whole host of other entertainment venues stage events throughout the month to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, a pivotal moment in gay and lesbian history.

—

Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel , 26 May 2022

Boston was one of the centers of gay and lesbian activism, in large part because Gay Community News, a national weekly, was published there.

—

Masha Gessen, The New Yorker , 24 May 2022

Silver Lake neighborhood demonstrating against police raids at gay and lesbian establishments in 1967, two years before the Stonewall uprising in New York City launched the modern gay rights movement nationally.

—

Los Angeles Times , 11 May 2022

Grindr, the dating app that caters to the gay and lesbian community, is now offering health coverage for workers who get gender reassignment surgery.

—

Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News , 5 May 2022

Those ousted include Tiffany Yuen, a former district councilor with a background of promoting women's rights and Raymond Chan, Hong Kong's first lawmaker who publicly identified as gay, as well as three other gay and lesbian district councilors.

—

Jessie Lau For Cnn, CNN , 5 May 2022

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Her mother went decades without acknowledging that her daughter was a lesbian .

—

New York Times , 20 May 2022

Her mother went decades without acknowledging that her daughter was a lesbian .

—

Michael M. Grynbaum, BostonGlobe.com , 20 May 2022

Nessel, an out lesbian , was the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in Michigan.

—

NBC News , 6 Aug. 2021

Systur will mark another Eurovision Grand Final first on Saturday, as a group counting both a lesbian and the mother of a transgender child among its members.

—

Dan Allen, NBC News , 14 May 2022

One of the new executives is a very masculine lesbian .

—

Roxane Gay, New York Times , 6 May 2022

Her comic book backstory has been reimagined over the years, but America is generally depicted as a sharp-witted, confident Latina lesbian whose mothers died in order to save her life.

—

Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times , 6 May 2022

The film features an interdimensional superhero, America Chavez, a lesbian who is shown in one scene referring to her two mothers.

—

Nic Robertson, CNN , 29 Apr. 2022

Lucia Lu is cast as an entertainment industry reporter and out of the closet lesbian .

—

Patrick Frater, Variety , 14 Mar. 2022

MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster

les·bi·an

| \ ˈlez-bē-ən

\

: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to other women or between women

gay and lesbian adults a lesbian relationship

: a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women : a gay woman

to refuse participate in (something) as a way of protesting
to divide proportionately
to prepare a small meal for sustenance
to make lively or excited

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Definition of lesbian (Entry 2 of 2)

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lesbian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback .

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 2
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Bikini, bourbon, and badminton were places first
“Lesbian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lesbian. Accessed 12 Jun. 2022.
Medical Definition of lesbian (Entry 2 of 2)
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