pedophile
See also: pédophile
English
Alternative forms
- paedophile (British spelling)
- pædophile (dated)
Etymology
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From pedo- + -phile, after Ancient Greek παιδοφῐ́λης (paidophílēs) (from παῖς (paîs, “boy, child”) and φιλέω (philéō, “I love”)).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: pēd'-ə-fīl', IPA(key): /ˈpiː.dəˌfaɪl/
Audio (UK): (file) - Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: pĕd'-ə-fīl', IPA(key): /ˈpɛ.dəˌfaɪl/, /ˈpɛ.doʊˌfaɪl/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "AU" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: pĕd'-ə-fīl', IPA(key): /ˈpe.dəˌfɑel/, /ˈpɛ.dəʉˌfɑel/
Noun
pedophile (plural pedophiles) (American spelling)
- (general use) An adult who is sexually attracted to or engages in sexual acts with a child.
- (psychiatry) A person aged 16 years old or older who is mostly or only sexually attracted toward prepubescent children. [from 20th c.]
- 1982, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice Abstracts, volume 14, page 253:
- Apart from his sexual behavior, the pedophile is typically law abiding.
- 1986, Patrick B. McGuigan & Jon S. Pascale, Crime and Punishment in Modern America, page 109:
- The pedophile, a particular type of child molester, is an adult whose conscious sexual interests and overt sexual behavior are directly either partially or exclusively toward children.
- 1982, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice Abstracts, volume 14, page 253:
Usage notes
- In the US, the official psychiatric designation for pedophilic disorder (according to the DSM-IV) is: "Over a period of at least six months, recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children."
Synonyms
- childlover (euphemistic)
Antonyms
Hyponyms
Derived terms
- pedophilish
- pedophilophile, paedophilophile (humorous)
- predophile
Related terms
Translations
an adult who is sexually attracted to children
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