Usage and acceptability of the word "queer"

Question

This dictionary.com definition pretty much sums up my understanding of what the word queer is supposed to mean. However, in modern times (at least here in the US, perhap someone else can speak for other regions), it seems the word has been appropriated to solely mean homosexual.

Is it still acceptable to use the word in the sense of "odd", "strange", or "unusual", or does it now only carry a derogatory/offensive connotation? Would using it in this sense be considered offensive?

Brett Reynolds · Accepted Answer

In the Corpus of Current American English, there are 64 uses of queer in the last year, and good chunk of them appear to have the meaning of "strange" rather than "homosexual", but the vast majority (perhaps all) of the "strange" uses describe things, not people. It seems that at least in the US today, a queer person is usually a homosexual, and if you don't intend that meaning, you might want to choose another adjective.

On another note, it is the term of choice for a large part of that community and wouldn't be derogatory if used respectfully.

Usage and acceptability of the word "queer"

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