Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
pedophilia
noun
/ˌpɛdəˈfɪliə/
Definition
Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by an adult’s sexual attraction to prepubescent children.
Examples
- The term ‘pedophilia’ is often used in legal contexts to describe certain criminal behaviors.
- Awareness programs aim to prevent the incidents associated with pedophilia.
Meaning
It refers to the condition where an adult experiences sexual feelings towards children who are generally under the age of 13.
Synonyms
- Child molestation
- Child sexual abuse
- Ephebophilia (though this implies attraction to adolescents rather than prepubescent children)
