libido
noun
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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".
Examples of libido in a Sentence
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
The method that’s furthest along in trials is a topical gel that promises to induce temporary infertility when smeared daily on the shoulders and upper arms—without affecting mood or libido.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Some people lose their libido or ability to become aroused, while others have problems with genital sensitivity, genital lubrication, reaching orgasm or having satisfying orgasms, or ejaculation.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
In ads on Google, Facebook and elsewhere, testosterone telemedicine websites may promise a quick fix for sluggishness and low libido in men.
—Michael Scaturro, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024
My libido fluctuates a lot depending on my mental health.
—Varuna Srinivasan, Allure, 15 Mar. 2024
Sidekick to: Jack Tripper Three's Company's Jack Tripper (John Ritter) had to sublimate his heterosexuality to keep Mr. Roper happy, but his good buddy Larry (Richard Kline) boasted enough libido for the both of them.
—Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Like the analyst’s couch, the crossword became an unexpected site for disclosing and disciplining the drives of libido.
—Anna Shechtman, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
Freud portrayed a world where everything is driven by libido; Frazer gave us a world in which everything hinges on fertility.
—Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'libido.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Libido.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libido. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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