paraphilia

paraphilia — noun

1. a lasting condition in which sexual interest centers on uncommon acts or situati

1.nounC2
Definition

a lasting condition in which sexual interest centers on uncommon acts or situations that most people strongly reject

Example

The therapist said Daniel needed help for a paraphilia that was harming his marriage.

have a paraphilia that harms daily life

The doctor described Mira's repeated peeping as a paraphilia, not a passing phase.

describe behavior as a paraphilia

Common collocations
  • have a paraphilia
  • serious paraphilia
  • diagnose paraphilia
  • treat paraphilia
  • link behavior to a paraphilia
Synonyms
  • sexual disorder

    broader clinical label; not every sexual disorder is classified as a paraphilia

  • fetishism

    narrower; one specific type that focuses on an object, body part, or material

  • sexual deviation

    older and more judgmental wording, less neutral than modern clinical use

Grammar Patterns

have a paraphilia

describe something as a paraphilia

link behavior to a paraphilia

treat paraphilia as a mental health issue

Usage Note

Mostly used in psychology, psychiatry, or legal discussion rather than casual conversation. It usually suggests a continuing pattern that has become harmful, illegal, or serious enough to need clinical attention.

Common Mistakes

Collecting old clocks is a paraphilia.
Collecting old clocks is an unusual hobby.
paraphilia only refers to a sexual pattern, not to any uncommon interest.

Word family

  • paraphilic
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Paraphilia is a formal clinical umbrella term, not an everyday word. Fetishism is narrower, because it usually refers to one specific pattern of sexual focus, often involving an object, material, or body part. Kink is informal and much broader; people may use it for consensual preferences that are not treated as a disorder at all. Sexual disorder is broader than paraphilia and can include other sexual problems that do not center on unusual arousal patterns.

paraphilia ↗fetishismkink ↗sexual disorder

Common collocations

Verbs

Phrases

  • have a paraphilia
  • describe something as a paraphilia
  • treat paraphilia as a mental health issue

Adjectives

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Paraphilia was formed from Greek parts: para, meaning beside or outside, and philia, meaning love or strong liking. In modern clinical English, it names a pattern of sexual interest seen as outside widely accepted norms.