Sapphic

[ saf-ik ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Sometimes ��·��󾱳�.
1. lesbian ( def 3 ).
2. of, relating to, or being a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women, used especially as an umbrella term for all women who are attracted to women.
pertaining to Sappho or to certain meters or a form of strophe or stanza used by or named after her.

noun

Greek Literature. a verse using certain meters or forms used by or named after Sappho.
Slang. Sometimes ��·��󾱳�. a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women.

Sapphic

/ ˈ��æ��ɪ�� /

adjective

prosody denoting a metre associated with Sappho, consisting generally of a trochaic pentameter line with a dactyl in the third foot
of or relating to Sappho or her poetry
lesbian

noun

prosody a verse, line, or stanza written in the Sapphic form

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Usage Note

��'s the difference between Sapphic and lesbian? See gay ( def ).

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Sapphic¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin sapphicus, from Greek ��󾱰�ó��, equivalent to ��(ṓ) the name of a famous Greek poet ( Sappho ( def ) ) + -ikos adjective suffix; -ic

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Driven by flamboyant fiddles and clever double entendres, she leaves a mark on the genre with her sapphic pop touch.

From

If you liked the country-pop twang of Roan’s “The Giver,” here are a few country/Americana/folk artists who bring a sapphic feel to their Western sounds.

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This is an essential, cowpunk-y anthem for sapphic yearning.

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Whether it was Chappell Roan dripping with sapphic disdain on Good Luck, Babe; or Sabrina Carpenter winking theatrically through the innuendo-laden Espresso, the charts were full of whip-smart lyrics from women who weren't afraid to speak their minds.

From

Crossing the pond sometime later this year on Hulu: “I Kissed a Girl,” this show’s sapphic sister.

From

sapper Sapphic ode

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