homosexuality
homosexuality — noun
1. the tendency to feel romantic love or physical desire for people whose gender ma
the tendency to feel romantic love or physical desire for people whose gender matches one's own; for instance, a woman who is drawn to other women, or a man who is drawn to other men.
The book explores how attitudes toward homosexuality have changed over time.
attitudes toward [homosexuality]
Benjamin spoke openly about his homosexuality with close friends and family.
speak openly about [homosexuality]
In many countries, laws now protect people from discrimination based on homosexuality.
Hui's parents were accepting when she talked about her homosexuality.
At a family dinner, Naoko's grandmother learned about her homosexuality and said she loved her.
- same-sex attraction
a broader, more inclusive phrase that covers both romantic and sexual feelings; common in academic and respectful discourse.
- gayness
informal, but usually refers specifically to male homosexuality.
- queerness
a reclaimed identity term that can include any non-heterosexual orientation; favoured in LGBTQ+ communities but may still carry political connotations.
- heterosexuality
the state of being attracted to people of the opposite sex.
用法筆記
In everyday modern English, 'gay' (for men) and 'lesbian' (for women) are far more common than 'homosexual' or 'homosexuality.' The noun 'homosexuality' sounds clinical or formal, so it is best suited to academic writing, legal documents, or discussions of the orientation as a general concept. Avoid using 'homosexual' as a noun ('a homosexual') — this is considered outdated and may be offensive in modern English; use 'a gay person' or 'a lesbian' instead.