STIF

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A gay man seen as exhibiting heterosexual manners or attitudes.

Register: dated, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

If there's "male hatred' in my book it's directed at those same attitudes in gay males who are […] still permeated with such solipsistic male assumptions, like those of our fathers and forefathers, that the world is for them alone and that it revolves around them, STIFFS, as they were once called ea

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).

Common questions

What does “STIF” mean?

A gay man seen as exhibiting heterosexual manners or attitudes.

Is “STIF” formal or informal?

STIF is generally dated, slang.