Pronunciation

/ɡeɪ/

Definitions

• Adjective: 1. (often referring to a man) Happy and carefree, characterized by lightheartedness and joy; merry. Example: “The group was in high spirits, singing and dancing throughout the evening.” 2. (now primarily used of a person, especially a man) Homosexual, typically referring to a sexual orientation towards people of the same gender. Example: “He came out to his family as gay during college.” 3. (of a thing, situation, or place) Bright, lively, and colorful; cheerful. Example: “The parade was filled with gay decorations and costumes.”

• Noun: (dated or informal) A homosexual person, especially a male. Example: “In the ’70s, the community began organizing gay pride events.”

Phrases

• “Come out of the closet” often refers to a gay person publicly disclosing their sexual orientation.
• “Gay rights” refers to the social movement advocating for equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• “Gaydar” is a colloquial term for an intuitive ability to recognize or identify another individual as gay.

Example Sentences

• Adjective (homosexual orientation): “They attended the local gay pride festival together.”
• Adjective (lively, cheerful): “The atmosphere at the carnival was particularly gay and festive this year.”
• Noun: “Many famous figures from history were part of the gay community, although it wasn’t openly discussed at the time.”

Synonyms

• Homosexual (for the sense referring to sexual orientation)
• Merry, joyful, carefree (for the sense referring to happiness or cheerfulness)
• Bright, colorful, vibrant (for the sense referring to brightness or liveliness)

Please note that using “gay” as a synonym for “homosexual” can be considered outdated or potentially offensive by some, and the preferred terms now include “LGBTQ+” or specific terms like “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual,” “transgender,” etc., depending on the individual’s identity. The use of “gay” to describe something as bright or cheerful may also be perceived as insensitive due to its historical association with LGBTQ+ identities.