masochist

noun

mas·​och·​ist ˈma-sə-kist 

ˈma-zə-,

 also  ˈmā-

plural masochists

1

: a person who derives sexual gratification from being subjected to physical pain or humiliation : an individual given to masochism

But Ksenia is a masochist who cannot experience sexual pleasure without first experiencing extreme pain.

—Christopher Rice

2

: a person who takes pleasure in pain and suffering

… a select group of cops, bikers, bodybuilders and other masochists who thrive on the deprivation that exercising in unfiltered 110 degree heat produces.

—Allison Glock

Some mathematical masochist has calculated that the brain was adding 150 million brain cells every hundred thousand years, the sort of useless statistic beloved of a tourist guide.

—Matt Ridley

Examples of masochist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stott is not a masochist; no hitter likes to swing-and-miss. —Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025

Someone may be a masochist but not into being humiliated. —Fran Tirado, Them, 10 Jan. 2025

If Ritter is a masochist and a sadist, Eloise is a pure hedonist. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2024

Far from being a masochist, Michelle just wanted relief from the heat, and the BDSM tent had air-conditioning. —Alden Wicker, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Masochist, from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch †1895 Austrian fiction writer and journalist + -ist -ist entry 1, after Masochismus masochism

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

masochist

noun

mas·​och·​ist -kəst 

: an individual who is given to masochism