paraphilia

noun para·phil·ia \ ˌper-ə-ˈfi-lē-ə , ˌpa-rə- \

|Updated on: 30 Apr 2018

Definition of paraphilia

: a pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental imagery or behavior that involves unusual and especially socially unacceptable sexual practices (such as sadism or pedophilia)

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paraphiliac

play \ˌper-ə-ˈfi-lē-ˌak, ˌpa-rə-\ or paraphilic play \ˌper-ə-ˈfi-lik, ˌpa-rə-\ adjective or noun

Recent Examples of paraphilia from the Web

It's estimated that roughly one third of the population experiments with some form of paraphilia at least once in their lives, with 17 percent regularly engaging in their kinks.

— andrew paul, GQ, "What Golden Shower Practitioners Think About a Certain Rumored Pee Tape," 24 Apr. 2018
More commonly discussed types of paraphilia are things like pedophilia, zoophilia, and objectophilia.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "3 Experts Explain Why Some People Are Attracted to Serial Killers," 14 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of paraphilia

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1925

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

paraphilia

noun para·phil·ia \ -ˈfil-ē-ə \

medical Definition of paraphilia

: a pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental imagery or behavior that involves unusual and especially socially unacceptable sexual practices (as sadism, masochism, fetishism, or pedophilia)