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homophobia

homophobia

34 6.7
A strong fear or dislike of gay people
  • noun
  • /ˌhoʊməˈfoʊbiə/
  • NSFW
: homofobia
  • Many schools are implementing programs to reduce homophobia among students and promote acceptance.
  • homophobia against homosexuals
  • internalized homophobia
  • sexism and homophobia

We we don't believe in racism or homophobia or sexism.

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Examples

  • I have the sense to know racism and homophobia exist.

  • Do you mind if we use our platform as black men, you know, to speak on homophobia in the black community?

  • Why is homophobia such a drawing card in the region?

  • And the black church, I think religion plays a big part of, of homophobia in, in like our society today.

  • Is there a support group that I can join... to help me come to terms with my own homophobia?

  • I think he struggled with homophobia, like lots of people his age.

  • One way to cope with this inequality, homophobia, and hate is through education.

    Academic text (2008)
  • In the predominantly heterosexual American society, inequality, homophobia, and hate of gay people continue to exist.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Issues like racism or sexism or the issue that we've been fighting in this century, homophobia, those are hard issues.

  • That the prejudice, the homophobia, the, the sexism, the, the, the lack of equality.

Synonyms

bigotry
vshomophobia
  • NSFW
89 7.0

An unfair dislike of people from other groups like different races or religions

is specifically about negative feelings toward homosexual people rather than general intolerance
intolerance
vshomophobia
49 4.6

Not willing to accept small annoyances or people with different views

is focused specifically on prejudice and fear toward homosexual people
homophobic attitude
vshomophobia
  • NSFW
1 7.5

A negative feeling or belief about gay and lesbian people

is the single-word clinical label rather than a descriptive phrase

Antonyms

172 3.7

Willingness to accept beliefs or lifestyles different from your own

125 2.7

Being approved or welcomed by other people

How Prejudiced

hatred
361 1.9
prejudice
184 4.8
homophobia
  • NSFW
34 6.7
dislike
  • Texting
50 1.0
indifference
66 4.6
acceptance
106 2.9

Surface Forms

homophobia singular
homophobias plural

Morphology

homophobia = phobia (transparent) = homo + phobia

The formation is a straightforward addition of the combining element 'homo-' (referring to homosexual people) to 'phobia' (irrational fear), so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Homophobia combines homo- meaning 'same' and -phobia meaning 'fear' (the same -phobia you see in words for a fear, like arachnophobia). So homophobia literally means a 'fear or dislike of people of the same sex', which is why we use it for prejudice against gay people and homosexuality.