Strange, unusual, or odd; also used as a term relating to sexual orientation or gender identity that differs from mainstream expectations.
From Low German 'queer' (diagonal, crooked, oblique). Originally meant 'sideways' or 'crooked,' then evolved to mean strange or suspicious by the 1600s.
This word perfectly shows how language reclaims meaning—LGBTQ+ communities took a slur from the 1800s and transformed it into a proud identity term, making it one of the most powerful examples of linguistic reclamation.
Originally a slur weaponized to demean LGBTQ+ people, particularly gay men and trans individuals. Reclaimed by activists since the 1980s as a political identity and umbrella term.
Use respectfully and contextually: acceptable when referencing queer communities' self-identification and reclaimed pride, or in historical discussion of marginalization. Avoid in non-consented attributions or contexts where term is still used as a slur.
["LGBTQ+","lesbian","gay","bisexual","transgender","non-binary"]
Queer scholarship and activism—led by people like Audre Lorde and contemporary LGBTQ+ thinkers—transformed this term from weaponized shame to proud political reclamation and theoretical framework.
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