fetishism

fe·tish·ism

noun \-tish-ˌi-zəm\

Definition of FETISHISM

1

: belief in magical fetishes

2

: extravagant irrational devotion

3

: the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish

— fe·tish·ist \-tish-ist\ noun

— fe·tish·is·tic \ˌfe-ti-ˈshis-tik also ˌfē-\ adjective

— fe·tish·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Variants of FETISHISM

fe·tish·ism also fe·tich·ism \-tish-ˌi-zəm\

First Known Use of FETISHISM

1801

fe·tish·ism

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FETISHISM

: the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish

—fe·tish·is·tic also fe·tich·is·tic \ˌfet-ish-ˈis-tik also ˌfēt-\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) adjective

—fe·tish·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb

Variants of FETISHISM

fe·tish·ism also fe·tich·ism \-ish-ˌiz-əm\ (audio pronunciation)

fetishism

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In psychology, erotic attachment to an inanimate object or a nongenital body part whose real or fantasized presence is necessary for sexual gratification. The object is most commonly some other body part or an article of clothing. From the time of its identification by Sigmund Freud in 1927, fetishism was thought to occur almost exclusively among men, but in the late 20th century that notion was challenged by several new studies. See also fetish.