philander

[fi-lan-der]

verb (used without object)

1. (especially of a man) to have many casual sexual encounters or affairs, especially when married or in a committed relationship.

   Synonyms: womanize, dally, trifle

philander

/ fɪˈlændə /

verb

1. (of a man) to flirt with women

Other Word Forms

• philanderer noun
• philandering noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of philander¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from Greek phílandros “one who loves” (of a woman, loving her husband); philo-, andro-; later used in fiction as a proper name for a lover, and apparently mistaken as “a man who loves”

Word History and Origins

Origin of philander¹

C17: from Greek philandros fond of men, from philos loving + anēr man; used as a name for a lover in literary works

Example Sentences

And Polyneices being gay and Eteocles being something of a philander would be of more interest in an “Oedipus” limited series.

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One forthcoming spectator confessed to being burdened with anger over her father’s philandering.

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Restitution for taking a human life tends to be much costlier, but Maggie knows her pill-addicted, philandering husband will negotiate a way out of paying.

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The film delved into the loneliness of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a philandering, often tyrannical landlord in an opulent yet feudal world.

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Like the power-mongering and philandering Zeus of mythology, they are unhappy when their bad deeds are pointed out.

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Related Words

• womanize