necrophilia

[ nek-ruh-fil-ee-uh ]

/ ˌnɛk rəˈfɪl i ə /

noun Psychiatry.

an erotic attraction to corpses.

Nearby words

necrolysis, necromancy, necromania, necromimesis, necrophagous, necrophilia, necrophilism, necrophilous, necrophobia, necrophorous, necropolis

Origin of necrophilia

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; see origin at necro-, -philia

Related forms

nec·ro·phile

[nek-ruh-fahyl] /ˈnɛk rəˌfaɪl/, nounnec·ro·phil·i·ac

[nek-ruh-fil-ee-ak] /ˌnɛk rəˈfɪl iˌæk/, nec·ro·phil·ic, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for necrophilia

necrophilia

/ (ˌnɛkrəʊˈfɪlɪə) /

noun

sexual attraction for or sexual intercourse with dead bodiesAlso called: necromania, necrophilism

Derived Forms

necrophiliac or necrophile (ˈnɛkrəʊˌfaɪl), nounnecrophilic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for necrophilia

necrophilia

[ nĕk′rə-fĭl′ē-ə ]

n.

An abnormal fondness for being in the presence of dead bodies.necromania

Sexual contact with or erotic desire for dead bodies.

Related forms

nec′ro•phil′i•ac′ (-ē-ăk′) adj. n.