what does faggot mean

“Faggot” is an English-language slur that is used to insult or demean gay men and, more broadly, people perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. It is widely considered offensive and hateful; using it about someone is abusive and can cause real harm. Historically the same spelling also referred to a bundle of sticks and, in some British contexts, to a type of meatball, but those meanings are now rare and separate from the modern slur. Some LGBTQ+ people have attempted to reclaim the word in specific communities, but reclamation is personal and context-dependent and does not make it acceptable for others to use casually. If you need a neutral, respectful term, use words like gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or LGBTQ+ person, or simply ask someone how they identify. When discussing the word in class or as part of language study, give a content warning, explain why it’s harmful, and avoid repeating it except to define or critique it in context.