erectile
Americanadjective
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capable of being erected or set upright.
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Anatomy. capable of being distended with blood and becoming rigid, as tissue.
adjective
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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
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capable of being erected
Other Word Forms
- erectility noun
Etymology
Origin of erectile
From the French word érectile, dating back to 1820–30. See erect, -ile
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.
The oral version of minoxidil can cause unwanted hair growth on the face and other areas of the body, while finasteride can dampen libido and lead to erectile dysfunction.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
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 • Dec. 7, 2025
Launched in 2017, Hims initially focused on treating men’s health issues such as hair loss and erectile dysfunction — concerns that people might feel too embarrassed to bring up in doctor visits.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025
The study does not prove that erectile dysfunction drugs reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2024
Anal pouch large, and divided into two sacs secreting the civet perfume of commerce; pupil vertical and oblong; fur spotted and coarse, lengthened into an erectile mane on the back; diet mixed carnivorous and vegetivorous.
From Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon by Sterndale, Robert Armitage
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
