Oedipus

1 of 2

noun

Oe·​di·​pus ˈe-də-pəs 

ˈē-

: the son of Laius and Jocasta who in fulfillment of an oracle unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother

Oedipus

2 of 2

adjective

: oedipal

Examples of Oedipus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Though debunked, the theory had wide influence, notably on Sigmund Freud, who suggested that everyone carries a primal inheritance in the form of the Oedipus complex, which haunts the unconscious with guilt and repression. —Maya Jasanoff, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, from Greek Oidipous

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1910, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Oedipus

• Oedipus complex

Medical Definition

Oedipus

1 of 2 adjective

: oedipal

Oedipus

2 of 2 noun

: oedipus complex