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

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

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

It would have been sporting masochism to pick himself.

From BBC

In the first part of your book, you introduce two key terms: anhedonia and masochism.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a strange, fascinating act of masochism, as if to underline the pain sports can cause to those who struggle to relate to its ideals.

From New York Times