necrophilia

American

[nek-ruh-fil-ee-uh] / ˌnɛk rəˈfɪl i ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

an erotic attraction to corpses.

necrophilia British

/ ˌnɛkrəʊˈfɪlɪə, ˈnɛkrəʊˌfaɪl /

noun

Also called: necromania. necrophilism. sexual attraction for or sexual intercourse with dead bodies

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

necrophiliac adjective
necrophilic adjective

Etymology

Origin of necrophilia

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; necro-, -philia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thus American society stands broadly convicted of necrophilia — as opposed to biophilia.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2024

Jokes about "necrophilia," "autism" and "Selena Gomez's kidney transplant" were named as examples of jokes that the characters found to be inappropriate.

From Fox News • Aug. 4, 2021

The latest joke at her expense came in a recent episode of the Paramount+ legal drama, when characters discussed off-limits topics for comedy now as being necrophilia, autism and "Selena Gomez's kidney transplant".

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2021

Kees Moeliker of the Netherlands, the scientific discoverer of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2012

Avoiding the dual traps of necrophilia and hagiography, the play tackles with gusto and considerable bursts of humor the period surrounding Garland’s London concert gigs at Talk of the Town not long before her death.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2010

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023