Etymology and origin of the English word homophobic
Etymology
It is formed from English homophobia + -ic,[2][3] or, in Etymonline's account, from English homo- + phobic.[4] Homophobia is from homo- as in homosexual and -phobia,[2][3][5][6] perhaps influenced by an earlier homophobia, fear of men, from Latin homō (“human being”).[2] That homo- is from Ancient Greek ὁμός (homós, “same”),[2][4] and -phobia goes back to φόβος (phóbos, “fear”).[4][1]
Earliest recorded meaning
Showing an irrational fear of or hostility to homosexual people: Etymonline quotes Time of 31 October 1969, which called a belief about homosexuals and crime "a homophobic myth".[4] The OED's first quotation is from Psychological Reports in 1971, both for the adjective and for the noun.[2]
Semantic evolution
At first the word described attitudes in society, with a sense of unreasonable or abusive fear of homosexuals; later it came to imply, or to assert, active hatred.[4] The OED defines it as hostile towards, prejudiced against or, less commonly, fearful of homosexual people.[2] Etymonline also records an unrelated homophobic, "afraid of humans", from Latin homo, by 1908, and quotes a 1970 Life article on "homophobic mustangs" that nobody but a rodeo hand could ride.[4] As a noun, a homophobic person, it is an equivalent of homophobe.[2][3]
Timeline
- 1908 – homophobic, afraid of humans, from Latin homo.[4]
- 1969 – hostile to homosexual people, in Time.[4]
- 1971 – adjective and noun, in Psychological Reports.[2]
Meanings
Adjective
- Showing hostility towards, prejudice against, or fear of homosexual people or homosexuality: The club apologized for the homophobic chants of some fans.[2][3][6]
- Relating to or characterized by homophobia.[2][1]
Noun
Related words
- homophobe
- homophobia
- homosexual
- phobia
- phobic
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Related etymologies
- hormone · also from Greek
- diagnostic · also from Greek
- bibliography · also from Greek
- psychic · also from Greek
- metabolism · also from Greek
- python · also from Greek
- trout · also from Greek
- cosmic · also from Greek
Cite this entry
“Homophobic.” Etymologically, 31 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/homophobic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.
Last edited on . ·