scopophile

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós, watcher) + English -phile.

Noun[edit]

scopophile (plural scopophiles)

  1. (psychology, sexuality) One with a sexual dependency on openly observing genitalia and sexual acts, as opposed to a voyeur, who watches in secret.
    Caligula was a scopophile who was not ashamed of his irregular desire to watch others making love, while Mr. Hoover, as a voyeur, favored the keyhole and wiretap as methods of observation.

Related terms[edit]

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