phallic

adjective

phal·​lic ˈfa-lik 

1

: of or relating to phallicism

a phallic cult

2

: of, relating to, or resembling a phallus

3

: relating to or being the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory that follows the anal stage and during which a child becomes interested in their own sexual organs

phallically

ˈfa-li-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of phallic in a Sentence

The poem is filled with phallic imagery.

an ancient Greek phallic symbol representing fertility

Recent Examples on the Web

Vampire teeth are often very pointy, and they [can be seen as] phallic symbols. —Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

The road to that disturbingly phallic Jules Rimet trophy inevitably goes through Spain, France, England, Belgium, Portugal, Croatia, Germany, and a bunch of others. —Filip Bondy, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

Milles complied, then inserted a massive phallic fish in the god’s right hand. —Laura Moser, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026

The musical, brimming over with Broadway in-jokes and phallic humor, doesn’t build so much as whip itself into a frenzy. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek phallikós "of or relating to a phallus," from phallós phallus + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for phallic

• alack
• gallic
• hallock
• malic
• malik
• salic
• sialic
• taluk
• bimetallic
• nonmetallic
• brachycephalic
• intermetallic

Medical Definition

phallic

adjective

phal·​lic ˈfal-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling a penis

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory following the anal stage and during which a child becomes interested in his or her own sexual organs compare anal sense 2, genital sense 3, oral sense 3