phallic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or resembling a phallus
a phallic symbol
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psychoanal
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relating to a stage of psychosexual development during which a male child's interest is concentrated on the genital organs
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designating personality traits, such as conceit and self-assurance, due to fixation at the phallic stage of development Compare anal oral genital
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(in Freudian theory) denoting a phase of early childhood in which there is a belief that both sexes possess a phallus
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of or relating to phallicism
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phallic
From the Greek word phallikós, dating back to 1780–90. See phallus, -ic
Explanation
Phallic means resembling or related to a penis: people often talk about phallic shapes, like the Washington Monument. When you see phallic, think penis. Calling something phallic means it's penis-like in some way. In some cases, that means it has creative power, like how a penis, through sex, creates new life. In other cases, people just mean it looks like the shape of a penis. Many people have looked at phallic shapes in the world — such as missiles and many sculptures — and wondered what exactly the creators were thinking about.
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.
Students at a London university say a proposed "phallic" sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley could "hurt the image and reputation" of the institution.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2022
She watches “Peppa Pig,” which I, of course, hate — those British pigs with their phallic noses prattling on about nothing.
From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2022
The mayor of a town in Malta has called for a "phallic" sculpture displayed close to the main airport to be removed ahead of the Pope's visit this weekend.
From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2010
Some lingas are carved and bear one or four faces, thus entirely losing any phallic appearance.
From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 2 by Sir Charles Eliot
As to the question of origin, I do not think that the palm can be denied to the mystical as distinguished from the phallic theory.
From Bygone Beliefs: being a series of excursions in the byways of thought by H. Stanley (Herbert Stanley) Redgrove
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.
