Homonegativity is a term, proposed for use by Hudson and Ricketts in 1980, used to describe negative attitudes towards homosexuality or homosexual people, as an alternative to the term homophobia. The term homophobia has a strongly negative political meaning and is perceived as pejorative and loaded.

The exact meaning of the term homonegativity is a subject of scientific discussion and disagreement. Hudson and Ricketts propose to use this term as descriptive for any negative attitude towards homosexuality (be it emotional, moral or intellectual disapproval), regardless of the sources of this attitude (be it based on religious, moral, ideological or other beliefs). They also propose to stop using "homophobia" in scientific context as it is a scientifically incorrect term.

Russian sexologist M. Beilkin proposes to use the term homonegativity only for intellectual disapproval of homosexuality, leaving the term homophobia for description of emotions and feelings towards homosexuality, such as fear, hatred, and aversion.^{[citation needed]} He does not consider the term "homophobia" wholly inaccurate, and says that homophobia really exists as a distinct phenomenon. In this view, homonegativity and homophobia are distinct terms, describing different things.