pornography

noun

por·​nog·​ra·​phy pȯr-ˈnä-grə-fē 

1

: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement

2

: material (such as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement

3

: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction

the pornography of violence

pornographic

ˌpȯr-nə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

pornographically

ˌpȯr-nə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

What is pornography?

For many people, any attempt to define the word pornography calls to mind the oft-quoted line from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in 1964: “. . . I know it when I see it.” While compilers of dictionaries might wish to be granted such latitude in explaining the meaning of certain words, they are held to a higher standard. Pornography, which has been used in English since the middle of the 19th century, comes from the Greek pornographos (“writing about prostitutes”), and initially referred to visual or written matter designed to cause sexual arousal, a meaning that is still the most common one employed today. Pornography has taken on an additional, non-sexualized, sense: one that refers to a depiction of sensational material (such as violence) in order to elicit a reaction. The phrase “pornography of violence,” for example, began to be used in the early 1950s.

Example Sentences

If you ask me, his movies are just high-class pornography.

Word History

Etymology

Greek pornographos, adjective, writing about prostitutes, from pornē prostitute + graphein to write; akin to Greek pernanai to sell, poros journey — more at fare, carve

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pornography

• anti-pornography

• anti-pornography

Kids Definition

pornography

noun

por·​nog·​ra·​phy pȯr-ˈnäg-rə-fē 

: pictures or writings describing sexual behavior and intended to cause sexual excitement

pornographic

ˌpȯr-nə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

Legal Definition

pornography

noun

por·​nog·​ra·​phy pȯr-ˈnä-grə-fē 

: material that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement

Note: Pornographic material is protected expression unless it is determined to be obscene. However, child pornography is illegal under federal and state laws prohibiting the depiction of minors in sexual acts.

pornographer

pȯr-ˈnä-grə-fər 

noun

pornographic

ˌpȯr-nə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

pornographically adverb