Definition of "homosocial"

In practice, however, the line between heterosocial and heterosexual relationships is rarely seen as rigid and impenetrable. Instead, male-female friendships are often seen — by others if not by the participants — as having sexual and romantic potential. In contrast, much social effort goes into maintaining the line between homosocial and homosexual relationships […]

2003, Barbara J. Bank, Contradictions in Women's Education, page 111

Even at its most intense, though, such ‘homosocial’ friendship, both in fiction and in reality, was meant to be distinguished from homosexual acts and tendencies.

2012, Faramerz Dabhoiwala, The Origins of Sex, Penguin, published 2013, page 129