# homophobia

/ˌhoʊməˈfoʊbiə/ (US) · /hˌɒməfˈəʊbiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/homophobia
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. prejudice against gay people

noun · CEFR B2

a strong dislike or fear of people who are gay, often leading to unfair treatment.

For teachers: prejudice, aversion, or hostility directed towards homosexual individuals.

- The company has strict rules to prevent homophobia and bullying in the office.
- Sociologists argue that systemic homophobia often manifests in subtle exclusionary practices rather than overt acts of hostility.

### 2. prejudice against LGBT+ people

noun · CEFR B2

a general dislike or fear of anyone in the LGBT+ community.

For teachers: a broader application of the term to include prejudice against the entire LGBT+ spectrum.

- The charity works to educate people and reduce homophobia in schools.
- The legislation was designed to protect citizens from various forms of hate speech, including homophobia and transphobia.

### 3. misspelling of eye colour condition

noun · CEFR C2 · Humorous · Slang · Informal

a joke spelling of 'heterochromia', which is when a person has two different coloured eyes.

For teachers: a deliberate, humorous misspelling of 'heterochromia' (the condition of having different coloured irises), typically found in internet slang.

- He posted a photo of his cat's blue and green eyes with the caption 'homophobia'.
- The use of 'homophobia' as a malapropism for heterochromia has become a recurring meme in certain online subcultures.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific internet joke; learners should be careful as using it in real life may cause serious misunderstanding.

## Examples

- The school has a strict policy against homophobia and bullying.
- Activists are working to pass new laws that protect citizens from violence motivated by homophobia.
- Sociologists argue that institutional homophobia can be dismantled only through a combination of legislative reform and comprehensive public education campaigns.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.