Roommate

Reference

Definition

In a humorous or ironic sexuality-related use, “roommate” refers to a same-sex significant other with whom someone lives—a coinhabitant in a non-heterosexual relationship.

Quick Facts

TermRoommate

What does “roommate” mean?

In this sexuality-related usage, “roommate” is a humorous or ironic term for a same-sex significant other who shares a home with the speaker. It describes the person as a coinhabitant while referring to the relationship indirectly.

Roommate in its ordinary sense

Outside this LGBTQ+ or sexual slang usage, a roommate is simply someone who shares a room or home with another person. The relationship meaning comes from using the ordinary housing term for a same-sex partner.

Sources

  1. Wiktionary: Roommate definition