lgbt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “lgbt” mean?
An initialism for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An initialism for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender; a collective term referring to individuals and communities who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Often used as an umbrella term to encompass a wide spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities, and related communities (e.g., LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+). It refers to both a group of people and the social and political movement advocating for their rights and equality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. Both regions use 'LGBT' as the standard base. 'LGBTQ+' is increasingly common in both, though 'LGBT+' is also used, particularly in the UK. There is some regional variation in the specific expansions (e.g., 'QUILTBAG' is a rare, informal alternative).
Connotations
Identical in core meaning. It carries the same social, political, and identity-related connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in media, academic, political, and corporate discourse in both regions, with similar usage levels.
Grammar
How to Use “lgbt” in a Sentence
[the] LGBT (community/rights/people)[an] LGBT (organisation/activist)LGBT-friendly (place/policy)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lgbt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The organisation works to **LGBT-include** all aspects of its policy.
American English
- The company pledged to **LGBT-proof** its hiring practices against bias.
adjective
British English
- She is a prominent **LGBT** activist.
- They attended an **LGBT-inclusive** conference.
American English
- The city passed an **LGBT-friendly** ordinance.
- He writes for an **LGBT-focused** magazine.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, marketing (LGBT-friendly services), and corporate social responsibility reports.
Academic
Common in sociology, gender studies, law, and political science papers discussing identity, rights, and social movements.
Everyday
Used in news, casual conversation about identity, events (Pride), and discussions of equality.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (anti-discrimination law), healthcare (LGBT health disparities), and demographic surveys.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lgbt”
- Using 'a LGBT' instead of 'an LGBT' (due to the vowel sound /ɛl/).
- Treating it as a plural noun itself (e.g., 'the LGBTs'); it's better to say 'LGBT people'.
- Using it as a personal descriptor for an individual ('He is LGBT') rather than specifying their identity ('He is gay').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's 'an LGBT' because the letter 'L' is pronounced /ɛl/, beginning with a vowel sound.
The '+' is inclusive of other sexual orientations and gender identities not explicitly listed in the acronym, such as intersex, asexual, pansexual, and others.
It is generally more precise and respectful to use the specific term for a person's identity (e.g., gay, bisexual, transgender). 'LGBT' is best used as a collective term.
No significant differences in meaning or core usage. Both use 'LGBT' as the standard base, with 'LGBTQ+' being increasingly common in both. Spelling and pronunciation follow general BrE/AmE patterns for the individual letters.
An initialism for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender.
Lgbt is usually neutral to formal in register.
Lgbt: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛl.dʒiː.biːˈtiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛl.dʒi.biˈti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Alphabet soup (humorous/critical term for the expanding initialism)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
**L**et's **G**et **B**etter **T**ogether – a phrase evoking the community's shared goals for equality and rights.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS AN UMBRELLA (LGBT as an umbrella term sheltering diverse identities); MOVEMENT IS A JOURNEY (the LGBT movement striving toward equality).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common grammatical function of 'LGBT'?