libido

noun li·bi·do \ lə-ˈbē-(ˌ)dō also ˈli-bə-ˌdō \

Definition of libido

plural libidos

1 :instinctual psychic energy that in psychoanalytic theory is derived from primitive biological urges (as for sexual pleasure or self-preservation) and that is expressed in conscious activity

2 :sexual drive

The drug was used to increase libido.

See libido defined for English-language learners

Examples of libido in a Sentence

Lack of libido may be a sign of depression.

Recent Examples of libido from the Web

That’s why some women report a decrease in libido as a result of the pill.

— candice jalili, Teen Vogue, "How Birth Control Affects Your Body," 2 Aug. 2017
A huge question that sixties feminism failed to answer had to do with sex: Could a healthy heterosexual libido be reconciled with good movement politics?

— kim france, Daily Intelligencer, "Feminism Rocks," 30 June 2017
Everyone experiences pregnancy differently, and there's nothing abnormal about experiencing either higher or lower libido during it.

— rosemary donahue, Allure, "8 Things You Should Know Before Having Pregnancy Sex," 29 June 2017
First, the right workout program will boost your testosterone production to keep your libido high and potentially counteract the natural decrease in T levels as you age.

— anthony j. yeung, Esquire, "A Workout Plan for the Only Thing on Your Mind: Your Sex Life," 28 June 2017
A. Dutasteride (Avodart) has been linked to both erectile dysfunction and low libido (PeerJ, online, March 9, 2017).

— teresa graedon, The Seattle Times, "Red yeast rice sends cholesterol plunging," 25 June 2017
Still, pop culture celebrating the libido of middle-aged women helps, doesn't it?

— jill gleeson, Woman's Day, "I'm Having Better Sex At 50 Than I Ever Did In My 20s," 9 June 2017
Freud’s original theory, after all, rested on an account of great psychical torsions set in motion by the libido.

— warren breckman, New Republic, "The Fortunes of Freud," 1 June 2017
Does a supposedly natural coffee that will improve your libido and sexual stamina using just herbs sound too good to be true?

— evann gastaldo, Fox News, "'Herbal' coffee meant to boost sex drive recalled after consumer death," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'libido.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The Latin word libido, meaning "desire, lust", was borrowed by Sigmund Freud as the name for a concept in his own theories. At first he defined libido to mean the instinctual energy associated with the sex drive. Later he broadened the word's meaning and began using it to mean the mental energy behind purposeful human activity of any kind; in other words, the libido (for which Freud also used the term eros, a Greek word meaning "sexual love") came to be regarded as the life instinct, which included sex along with all the other impulses we rely on to keep us alive. But those of us who aren't psychologists use the word simply as a synonym for "sex drive".

Origin and Etymology of libido

New Latin libidin-, libido, from Latin, desire, lust, from libēre to please — more at love

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1909

See Words from the same year

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

libido

noun li·bi·do \ lə-ˈbēd-(ˌ)ō also ˈlib-ə-ˌdō or lə-ˈbī-(ˌ)dō \

medical Definition of libido

plural libidos

1 :instinctual psychic energy that in psychoanalytic theory is derived from primitive biological urges (as for sexual pleasure or self-preservation) and that is expressed in conscious activity

2 :sexual drive

Learn More about libido

See words that rhyme with libido Spanish Central: Translation of libido Nglish: Translation of libido for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about libido

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