masturbation

IPA/ˌmæstəˈbeɪʃn/
KK[mˌæstɚbˈeʃən]IPA/ˌmæstərˈbeɪʃn/

masturbation — noun

1. stimulating your own sexual organs with your hands or by rubbing against somethi

1.nounB2
Definition

stimulating your own sexual organs with your hands or by rubbing against something, in order to experience sexual pleasure; an activity considered normal in human development

Example

Beatrix felt embarrassed when her mother walked into her room while she was masturbating.

intransitive verb form — masturbating (subject does it to themself)

Dr. Lakan told the class that masturbation does not cause any physical or mental health problems.

Common collocations
  • practice masturbation
  • engage in masturbation
  • regular masturbation
  • during masturbation
  • masturbation habits
Synonyms
  • self-pleasuring

    softer, more positive connotation; often used in sex-positive writing instead of the clinical term

  • self-stimulation

    broader term that can also describe non-sexual touching (e.g., rubbing a sore muscle)

  • onanism

    very rare, formal, and historical; most modern English speakers will not recognize this word

Grammar Patterns

masturbation (as subject or object of a clause)

masturbate (intransitive verb form — to do it to yourself)

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, many informal alternatives exist (e.g., 'jacking off,' 'wanking,' 'touching yourself'), but 'masturbation' is the standard neutral term used in education, medical, and formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

I read about the masturbation in a health book.
I read about masturbation in a health book.
Masturbation is an uncountable noun and does not take the article 'the' in general statements.
Masturbation is harmful to your body.
Masturbation is a normal biological activity that does not cause physical harm.
A common myth; medically, masturbation is not harmful.

2. the act of manually stimulating a partner's sexual organs during intimate activi

2.nounB2
Definition

the act of manually stimulating a partner's sexual organs during intimate activity as a way of giving them pleasure; often discussed in the context of relationships, foreplay, or sexual therapy

Example

Diya asked her partner whether they enjoyed mutual masturbation as part of foreplay.

mutual masturbation — both partners do it to each other

Adisa and his girlfriend found that mutual masturbation helped them feel more comfortable together.

Common collocations
  • mutual masturbation
  • partner masturbation
  • masturbate someone
  • masturbation during foreplay
Synonyms
  • mutual masturbation

    more specific — implies both partners are doing it to each other at the same time

  • manual stimulation

    broader clinical term that can include non-sexual medical or therapeutic contexts

Grammar Patterns

mutual masturbation (noun phrase — both partners do it to each other)

masturbate + person (transitive verb form — doing it to someone else)

Usage Note

This sense requires a clear context (e.g., relationship, therapy) because without context, 'masturbation' alone is usually understood as self-directed (sense 1). The adjective 'mutual' or a possessive phrase ('masturbation of a partner') helps disambiguate.

Common Mistakes

They masturbated each other's bodies.
They masturbated each other.
When used transitively, the person is the direct object, not the body part.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Masturbation is the standard neutral term used in health education and medical contexts. Self-pleasuring has a softer, more positive tone and is common in sex-positive writing that avoids clinical language. Self-stimulation is broader — it can refer to non-sexual touching (such as rubbing a sore muscle) and is less specific to sexual contexts. Onanism is a very rare, historical term derived from the biblical story of Onan; most modern English speakers would not recognize it. For example: 'The health class discussed masturbation as part of normal development' uses the standard term, while 'Self-pleasuring can help you learn about your own body' sounds gentler and less clinical.

self-pleasuringself-stimulationonanism ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act of masturbation
  • thoughts about masturbation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'masturbatio', which was likely formed from 'manus' (hand) and either 'stuprare' (to defile) or 'turbare' (to stir up). It entered English around the 18th century and was originally used mainly in medical and moral writing. Over time it became the standard neutral term for this activity.