pe·do·phil·ia
| \ ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lē-ə
, ˌpē-
\
, ˌpē-
\
Definition of pedophilia
: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
specifically
: a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child
Other Words from pedophilia
pedophiliac
\
ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lē-ˌak
, ˌpē-
\
or pedophilic \
ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lik
, ˌpē-
\ adjective
, ˌpē-
\
or pedophilic \
ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lik
, ˌpē-
\ adjective
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about pedophilia
Dictionary Entries near pedophilia
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for pedophilia
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Pedophilia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedophilia. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for pedophilia
pedophilia
noun
pe·do·phil·ia
| \ ˌped-ə-ˈfil-ē-ə
, ˌpēd-
\
, ˌpēd-
\
variants:
or chiefly British paedophilia \
ˌpēd-
\
\
Medical Definition of pedophilia
: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
specifically
: a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on pedophilia
What made you want to look up pedophilia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
The Exceptions Quiz III
-
- Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share pedophilia
Time Traveler for pedophilia
The first known use of pedophilia was in 1906
See more words from the same year