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Definition of pedophile

pedophile

/ˈpɛd.əˌfaɪl/
(UK: paedophile)
ped · o · phile
Plural:pedophiles
•
Adjective:pedophilic
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pedophile Lexical Profile

pedophile Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American An adult who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children, or someone who has been diagnosed with pedophilia.

Example

"Forensic psychologists testified during the trial regarding the behavioral patterns of the convicted pedophile."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pedophile

Word Nuance & Usage

In clinical psychiatry, 'pedophile' specifically denotes a person with a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children, whereas in legal and everyday usage it is often applied more broadly to anyone who commits sexual offenses against minors.

• Nearby Words

pedigree
pedigreed
pedometer
pedophile
pedophilia
pedophilic
pedorthics

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century in psychiatric literature (originally in German as 'Pädophilie' by Richard von Krafft-Ebing), formed from Ancient Greek 'pais' (genitive 'paidos', meaning 'child') and '-philos' ('loving').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pedophile. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pedophile
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