erectile

American  

[ih-rek-tl, -til, -tahyl] / ɪˈrɛk tl, -tɪl, -taɪl /

adjective

1. capable of being erected or set upright.

2. Anatomy. capable of being distended with blood and becoming rigid, as tissue.

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erectile British  

/ ˌiːrɛk-, ɪrɛkˈtɪlɪtɪ, ɪˈrɛktaɪl /

adjective

1. physiol (of tissues or organs, such as the penis or clitoris) capable of becoming rigid or erect as the result of being filled with blood

2. capable of being erected

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Other Word Forms

• erectility noun

Etymology

Origin of erectile

From the French word érectile, dating back to 1820–30. See erect, -ile

Example Sentences

Among the most common disabilities claimed by older veterans are diabetes, hypertension and “loss of erectile power,” all common among older men.

From The Wall Street Journal

“On a population level, hundreds of millions of men have gotten this vaccine and there’s no study showing reduced erectile function in men who have been vaccinated,” she said.

From Seattle Times

Yet studies so far have not linked the vaccines with problems related to pregnancy, menstrual cycles, erectile performance or sperm quality.

From Scientific American

Still, he said, “Men who want to maximize their erectile function should be aware of the possible contribution of diet in addition to other lifestyle factors.”

From New York Times

Sometimes orders are more sensitive: he bought the erectile drug Viagra for one particularly grateful customer.

From Reuters