voyeur

American  

[vwah-yur, voi-, vwa-yœr] / vwɑˈyɜr, vɔɪ-, vwaˈyœr /

noun

plural

voyeurs

1. a person who engages in voyeurism.

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voyeur British  

/ vwaɪˈɜː, vwajœr /

noun

1. a person who obtains sexual pleasure or excitement from the observation of someone undressing, having intercourse, etc

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Other Word Forms

• voyeurism
  noun
• voyeuristic
  adjective
• voyeuristically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of voyeur

First recorded in 1915–20; from French, equivalent to voi(r) “to see” (from Latin vidēre; cf. video ( def. )) + -eur -eur

Explanation

Make sure you close the curtains at night, just in case there’s a voyeur in the neighborhood. A voyeur is someone who likes to watch people without them knowing. The word voyeur came into English in the twentieth century from the French word voir, meaning “see.” A voyeur is someone who peeps, or spies on other people, watching them do things they probably don't want to be seen, or someone who likes to hear stories about strangers' private lives. When you spell voyeur, make sure you remember the ending is spelled “eur,” a legacy of the word’s French heritage.

Example Sentences

Some are obvious to any Hitchcock fan: the Murderer, the Womanizer, the Auteur, the Voyeur, the Entertainer.

From Washington Post • Apr. 22, 2021

In their fascinating and frustrating documentary "Voyeur," directors Myles Kane and Josh Koury chronicle the lead-up to the publication of the 2016 book, which hit shelves amid a storm of controversy.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2017

The entries become increasingly portentous, and Foos starts to invest the omniscient Voyeur character with godlike qualities.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 4, 2016

Recorded with just piano, bass and drums, it's now reportedly titled Voyeur.

From The Guardian • Feb. 8, 2013

“This collection is disturbing, yet I can’t seem to look away,” wrote Voyeur From Canada.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2010