The Sapphic Sanctuary
Is sapphic a sexuality or an umbrella term?
Sapphic is usually an umbrella term rather than a single sexual orientation. It groups together everyone whose attraction to women fits, including lesbians, bi and pan women, and many nonbinary people. Some people also use it as their own label when other words feel too narrow.
Last updated: July 19, 2026
A sexual orientation names who you are attracted to, like lesbian, bisexual, or pansexual. Sapphic works at a level above that. It points at a shared direction of attraction toward women, without pinning down the exact orientation underneath.
That is why you can be both at once. A lesbian is sapphic. A bi woman is sapphic. The word does not replace your orientation; it sits alongside it and connects you to a wider community.
If you are still deciding what fits, our page on using the word while you are questioning may help.