View synonyms for

drag queen

[ drag kween ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Slang.

a performer, typically one who was assigned male at birth, whose act involves a stylized and exaggerated interpretation of femininity that plays with stereotypical gender themes.

drag queen

noun

a male who dresses as a woman and impersonates female characteristics for public entertainment
slang.
a male transvestite

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Word History and Origins

Origin of drag queen¹

First recorded in 1960–65; drag (in the sense “wearing clothes characteristic with a different sex”) + queen (in the sense “flamboyantly effeminate gay man”)

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Idioms and Phrases

A male transvestite; also, a female impersonator. For example, He was surprised to find out that Roxanne was actually a drag queen . This term uses the slang noun drag in the sense of “female attire worn by a man” (a usage dating from about 1870; also see in drag ). [ Offensive slang ; c. 1940]

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Compare Meanings

How does drag queen compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

drag queen vs. transvestite

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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