What is the meaning of the pejorative form of “gay”?


Dictionaries don’t define the pejorative use of gay, but the term is used in common parlance. For example:



That’s so gay.



or



You’re gay.



Is there a way of establishing what gay means when used pejoratively?



Answer




Dictionaries don't define the pejorative use of gay



Some of them do:



  • Dictionary.com: Gay: "awkward, stupid, or bad; lame: This game is really gay.

  • Oxford Dictionaries: Gay: "Foolish, stupid, or unimpressive: he thinks the obsession with celebrity is totally gay."

  • Wiktionary: Gay (English): "Used to express dislike: lame, uncool, stupid: This game is gay; let’s play a different one. = I dislike this game; let’s play a different one."


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