When Did Lesbian Become A Word?

The word “lesbian” has been in use for several centuries to refer to a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women. The term is derived from the Greek island of Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived and wrote about love between women.

The use of the word “lesbian” to refer to same-sex female attraction dates back to the late 19th century. In 1869, the German-Hungarian writer Karl-Maria Kertbeny coined the term “homosexual” to describe same-sex attraction, and “lesbian” was used as a parallel term for female homosexuality.

The term “lesbian” was first used in English in the late 19th century, and it quickly gained popularity as a way to describe same-sex female attraction. In the early 20th century, the word “lesbian” was used in both medical and psychological literature to describe same-sex female attraction.

Today, the word “lesbian” is widely used to refer to a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women. It is a commonly accepted and widely used term within the LGBTI+ community.