venereal

adjective

ve·​ne·​re·​al və-ˈnir-ē-əl 

1

: of or relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence

2

a

: resulting from or contracted during sexual intercourse

venereal infections

b

: of, relating to, or affected with venereal disease

a high venereal rate

c

: involving the genital organs

venereal sarcoma

venereally adverb

Examples of venereal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now an international team of researchers has analyzed the genetics of the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) to better understand how these cancer cells have evolved over the span of thousands of years. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2019

In addition to being an occasional male model and a venereal-disease activist, Clark was the proprietor of the Goose Hollow Inn—a cluttered, cozy tavern with wooden booths and oozy Reubens that, since its opening in 1967, had been one of the most popular hangouts in Portland. —Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 10 May 2022

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is found on or near dogs’ genitals, and is usually passed during mating. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2021

The Washington Post and Times-Herald reported in 1956 that Soviet health officials had declared that penicillin no longer worked against venereal diseases. —Marc Landas, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2017

Jerry Lee, who would tolerate no image-makeover Svengali, wore the musk of venereal danger, styled himself as a reckless teen girl’s dream and her mom’s nightmare. —Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Oct. 2022

So did a lifetime of venereal infections, which was probably what did him in. —Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022

How then, to distinguish between the three subspecies and prove that the venereal form had existed in Europe all along? —Marylynn Salmon, The Conversation, 13 July 2022

But his statement perfectly fits the difference between venereal and endemic syphilis, evidence that suggests both diseases existed in 15th-century England. —Marylynn Salmon, The Conversation, 13 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venerealle, from Latin Venerius, Venereus "of Venus, of or relating to sexual desire or sexual activity, erotic," adjective derivative of vener-, venus "sexual desire, sexual intercourse, (as proper noun) goddess personifying sexual attractiveness" + -alle -al entry 1 — more at venus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing venereal

• venereal disease

Rhymes for venereal

• arterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• cereal
• virial

Kids Definition

venereal

adjective

ve·​ne·​re·​al və-ˈnir-ē-əl 

: resulting from or contracted during sexual intercourse

a venereal infection

Medical Definition

venereal

adjective

ve·​ne·​re·​al və-ˈnir-ē-əl 

1

: of or relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence

2

a

: resulting from or contracted during sexual intercourse

venereal infections

b

: of, relating to, or affected with venereal disease

a high venereal rate

c

: involving the genital organs

venereal sarcoma

venereally

-ē 

adverb