Meanings
nounlavender scare (plural lavender scares)
plural lavender scares
- UShistoricalslanggovernmentThe fear and persecution of homosexuals in the 1950s in the United States.
Origin
Lavender is considered a feminine colour, and some male homosexuals act in a feminine manner.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
lavender scare. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lavender%20scare
MLA
“lavender scare.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lavender%20scare. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lavender scare,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lavender%20scare.
Source: lavender scare on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.