masochism

American  

[mas-uh-kiz-uhm, maz-] / ˈmæs əˌkɪz əm, ˈmæz- /

noun

1. Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering physical pain or humiliation.

2. gratification gained from pain, deprivation, degradation, etc., inflicted or imposed on oneself, either as a result of one's own actions or the actions of others, especially the tendency to seek this form of gratification.

3. the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself.

4. the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.

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masochism British  

/ ˈmæsəˌkɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry an abnormal condition in which pleasure, esp sexual pleasure, is derived from pain or from humiliation, domination, etc, by another person

2. psychoanal the directing towards oneself of any destructive tendencies

3. a tendency to take pleasure from one's own suffering Compare sadism

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masochism Cultural  

1. Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to pain. More loosely, masochism refers to deriving any pleasure from experiencing pain. (Compare sadism.)

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Other Word Forms

• masochist noun
• masochistic adjective
• masochistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of masochism

First recorded in 1890–95; named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895), who described it; -ism

Explanation

Someone into masochism gets sexual pleasure from being hurt: they are turned on by pain. When you see the word masochism, think "pleasure from pain." Masochism is the opposite of sadism, which involves getting turned on by hurting people. Masochists are the ones that like getting hurt, though usually not seriously. Besides sex, people talk about masochism in other situations. If an employee keeps asking for more and more work, and seems to enjoy being stressed out and pushed around by a boss, other employees may see this as masochism.

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, there are plenty of young gallerists who insist on persisting—whether out of masochism or idealism—and they are finding new and unconventional ways to adapt to the difficult landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

It has also felt like "an act of extreme masochism to try and make a film of something that means this much to you", she explained.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2025

But it’s not an act of self-deprecation or masochism — it’s more childlike play and an expression of joy.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2023

In 1983's "The Curse of Lono," Thompson, in part, explored what he perceived as a descent into masochism apparent from the rise of marathons and running culture.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2021

But he was not irrigating fields, milking cows, or otherwise performing feats of agricultural masochism which might warrant such early rising.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols