gayface
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
An obvious, apparent, or stereotypical appearance of homosexuality based on a person's countenance, often characterized by effeminacy in males and masculinity in females.
Register: slang
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
The practice in which a straight person portrays a caricature of a gay person.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “gayface” mean?
An obvious, apparent, or stereotypical appearance of homosexuality based on a person's countenance, often characterized by effeminacy in males and masculinity in females.
Is “gayface” formal or informal?
gayface is generally slang.