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Gay: meaning, definitions and examples

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gay

 

[ ɡeɪ ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

sexual orientation

A person who is attracted to others of the same sex. It can refer to both men and women.

Synonyms

homosexual, lesbian, queer

Examples of usage

  • She came out as gay last year.
  • He has been openly gay since high school.
Context #2 | Adjective

describing something as happy or bright

Lighthearted and carefree; brightly colored or showy.

Synonyms

cheerful, joyful, merry

Examples of usage

  • The party had a gay atmosphere.
  • She wore a gay dress to the event.

Translations

Translations of the word "gay" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gay

🇮🇳 समलैंगिक

🇩🇪 schwul

🇮🇩 gay

🇺🇦 гей

🇵🇱 gej

🇯🇵 ゲイ

🇫🇷 gay

🇪🇸 gay

🇹🇷 eşcinsel

🇰🇷 게이

🇸🇦 مثلي الجنس

🇨🇿 gay

🇸🇰 gay

🇨🇳 同性恋

🇸🇮 gej

🇮🇸 samkynhneigður

🇰🇿 гей

🇬🇪 გეი

🇦🇿 gey

🇲🇽 gay

Etymology

The word 'gay' has a complex history. Originally meaning 'happy' or 'lively', it began to be used to refer to homosexual people in the late 19th century. Over time, it became the widely accepted term for describing same-sex attraction. In recent years, the term has also been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community as a positive and empowering identity.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,715, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.