pedophilia

noun

pe·​do·​phil·​ia ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lē-ə  ˌpē- 

: 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

pedophiliac

ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lē-ˌak 

ˌpē-

adjective

or pedophilic

ˌpe-də-ˈfi-lik 

ˌpē-

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pedophilia

noun

pe·​do·​phil·​ia ˌped-ə-ˈfil-ē-ə  ˌpēd- 

variants or chiefly British paedophilia

ˌpēd- 

: 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