homophobia

noun

ho·​mo·​pho·​bia ˌhō-mə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: discrimination against, aversion to, or fear of homosexuality or gay people compare transphobia

homophobic

ˌhō-mə-ˈfō-bik 

adjective

Examples of homophobia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is little doubt that the gerbil rumor was a form of homophobia. — Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

The riotous 640-page door stopper grapples with homophobia then and now, the lingering specter of colonialism, the tumult of the AIDS crisis, and frameworks of power that demand dominance or submission. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

The forensic expert starts to piece together the young men’s relationship and the circumstances that brought them to that fateful day, revealing a story shaped by abuse, homophobia, social alienation and despair. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026

James’s novel has been long-listed for the Booker Prize; the title evokes all those men, and more rarely women, in Jamaica whose lives have been erased by murder, exile, or AIDS because of rampant homophobia. — Tobias Grey, Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for homophobia

• rhizobia
• agoraphobia
• claustrophobia
• hydrophobia
• photophobia
• xenophobia
• phobia

Kids Definition

homophobia

noun

ho·​mo·​pho·​bia ˌhō-mə-ˈfō-bē-ə 

: irrational fear or dislike of or prejudice against homosexuality or gay people

homophobic

-ˈfō-bik 

adjective