Define the term gay

Glossary of Terms

Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. 

This glossary was written to help verb people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more comfortable. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.

Ally | A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQ+ community who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).

Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may experience no, little or conditional sexual attraction.

Biphobia | The anxiety and hatred of, or discomfort with

gayadjective, adverb, & noun

There are 31 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word gay, nine of which are labelled obsolete, and one of which is considered offensive. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

About 20occurrences per million words in modern written English

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Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the synonyms gay is in the Middle English period (—).

OED's earliest evidence for gay is from around , in Ancrene Riwle.

gay is a borrowing from French.

Etymons:Frenchgai.

Nearby entries

  1. gawlin, n–
  2. gawn, n–
  3. gawne, v
  4. gawney, n–
  5. gawp, n–
  6. gawp, v–
  7. gawper, n–
  8. gawpus, n–
  9. gawpy, n–
  10. gawsy, adj–
  11. gay, adj., adv., & n.?c–
  12. gay, v–
  13. gayal, n–
  14. gayatri, n–

    15. by Jordan Redman
    Staff Writer 

    Do you know what the word gay really means?

    The word gay dates back to the 12th century and comes from the Aged French “gai,” meaning “full of joy or mirth.” It may also relate to the Antique High German “gahi,” meaning impulsive.

    For centuries, gay was used commonly in speech and literature to mean happy, carefree, bright and showy, and did not obtain on any sexual meaning until the s.

    At that time the meaning of gay as carefree evolved to imply that a person was unrestrained by morals and prone to decadence and promiscuity. A prostitute might include been described as a “gay woman” and a womanizer as a “gay man.”

    “Gay house” was commonly used to refer to a brothel and, later, “gaiety” was used as a frequent name for certain places of entertainment.

    In the s, the term “gey cat” (a Scottish variant of gay) was used to describe a vagrant who offered sexual services to women or a young traveler who was new to the road and in the company of an older man.

    This latter use suggests that the younger man was in a sexually submissive role and may be among the fir

    What Does "Gay" Mean?

    There is not one right answer

    Many educators are unsure how to respond when a student asks you what does gay signify. It is better to verb to answer than to respond with silence or evade the question.

    Practice different responses with colleagues, just as you practice other things that you want to learn. Figure out what you feel comfortable saying.

    Responses will vary by age and developmental stage of the student. Your comfort in answering these questions will set a welcoming tone in your class and school community.

    Keep it simple

    An answer can be as simple as: “‘Gay’ means two people of the alike gender who love each other – two women or two men.” Try to answer the question honestly without overloading a student with information. Throughout elementary school a student’s ability to understand what “gay” means and what your explanation means may increase with development.

    Focus on treasure and relationships

    A discussion with elementary-age students about the meanings of “gay” or “lesbian” is a discussion about love and relationships. You can