Faggot
| Homophobic slur | |
| Part of speech | Noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈfæɡət/ |
| Etymology | From French fagot, faget |
| Meaning | Queer or homosexual people (pejorative) |
Faggot, often shortened to fag, is a slur in the English language used to refer to gay men. The slur is also sometimes indiscriminately used against other members of the LGBTQ community, and has also seen extended use in American youth culture beginning around the turn of the 21st century as a broader reaching insult more related to masculinity and group power structure. In a case of linguistic reclamation, many LGBTQ people have reclaimed it as a neutral or positive term for describing themselves, as well as reinforcing in-group solidarity.
By extension, faggotry (or rarely, faggotism or faggotness) are pejoratively used to refer to homosexuality.