Standard Lemma guide

sapphist

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈsæ.fɪst/
  • /ˈsæ.fəst/ weak vowel merger
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A lesbian.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beanflicker, bulldiker, bulldyker, carpet muncher, chemise lifter, clam smacker, clitorist, crack snacker, donut bumper, dyke, flat cracker, gayelle, gap-lapper, gynecophile, kamp, lesbian, lesbianist, lesbo, lezzer, lezzie, lezzo, lizzie, palone-omi, rug muncher, Sapphic, sapphist, scissor sister, todger dodger, tribade, tribadist, tribady, vagitarian

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An admirer or student of Sappho or her poetry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sapphic + -ist, by analogy with Sapphist (“admirer or student of Sappho”).

Etymology tree English Sappho Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English Sapphist From Sappho + -ist.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: лесбийка (lesbijka) — lesbian
  • Finnish: sapfolainen — lesbian
  • Polish: safistka — lesbian