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(of a person) having a sexual or romantic attraction to people of the same gender
someone who is sexually drawn to people of their own sex
What is the origin of the term "homosexual" and how is it used?
Homosexual is a formal term that first appeared in late 19th-century European medical and scientific literature to describe someone sexually attracted to people of the same sex. The word combines the Greek prefix homo- meaning "same" with the Latin root sexualis relating to sex. Originally, it was a clinical or legal term, often used in medical, legal, or moralistic contexts, and could carry stigmatizing overtones. Today, it is still technically accurate and descriptive, but in casual speech it can sound formal, clinical, or outdated, and many people prefer terms like "gay" or "lesbian" instead.
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