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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

queer

/kwɪɹ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does queer mean?

adjective

  1. Pertaining to sexual or gender behaviour or identity which does not conform to conventional heterosexual or cisgender norms, assumptions etc.

verb

  1. To reevaluate or reinterpret (a work) with an eye to sexual orientation and/or to gender, as by applying queer theory.
  2. (slang) To make a work more appealing or attractive to LGBT people, such as by not having strict genders for playable characters.
More meanings (16)

adverb

  1. Queerly.
  2. Very, extremely.

adjective

  1. Of or relating to the culture surrounding queer people.
  2. (derogatory) Homosexual.
  3. (derogatory) Non-heterosexual or non-cisgender: homosexual, bisexual, asexual, transgender, etc.
  4. (dated, humorous) Strange, odd, or different; whimsical.
  5. (dated, informal) Slightly unwell.
  6. (dated, slang) Drunk.

noun

  1. (derogatory) A person who is or appears homosexual, or who has homosexual qualities.
  2. (derogatory) A person of any non-heterosexual sexuality or sexual identity.
  3. (derogatory) A person of any genderqueer identity.
  4. (archaic, informal) Counterfeit money.

verb

  1. (dated) To render an endeavor or agreement ineffective or null.
  2. (dated) To puzzle.
  3. (dated, slang) To ridicule; to banter; to rally.
  4. (dated, slang) To spoil the effect or success of, as by ridicule; to throw a wet blanket on; to spoil.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/kwɪɹ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

“I once heard that an uncle of his was queer in his head, but I don’t know the rights o’t,” he said.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
“You’re a queer girl, Anne. I heard before that you were queer. But I believe I’m going to like you real well.”
L. M. (Lucy Maud) MontgomeryAnne of Green GablesProject Gutenberg ebook #45
More book examples (3)
This crude arrangement he bound over the youth’s head, tying the ends in a queer knot at the back of the neck.
Stephen CraneThe Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil WarProject Gutenberg ebook #73
There was something comforting and really friendly in her queer Yorkshire speech and sturdy way which had a good effect on Mary.
Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Secret GardenProject Gutenberg ebook #113
Mrs. Comstock caught her breath with a queer stirring around her heart, and looked twice to be sure of what she saw.
Gene Stratton-PorterA Girl of the LimberlostProject Gutenberg ebook #125