philander

[ fi-lan-der ]

/ fɪˈlæn dər /

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See synonyms for: philander / philandering / philanderer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

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

OTHER WORDS FOR philander

trifle, dally, womanize.

See synonyms for philander on Thesaurus.com

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IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of philander

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

OTHER WORDS FROM philander

phi·lan·der·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use philander in a sentence

Americans love a redemption story, but when a philandering politician just can’t seem to clean up their act, voters are ready to move on.
Cal Cunningham lost. Katie Hill resigned. Are we still put off by sex scandals?|Lisa Bonos|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Given his philandering reputation, it is perhaps unsurprising that there are several people who claim to be his offspring.
Spanish Court To Consider Paternity Claims Against Former King Juan Carlos|Tom Sykes|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If a Queen did cheat, her crimes fade into insignificance compared to the extensive philandering engaged in by medieval monarchs.
The Sex Life of King Richard III's Randy Great Great Great Grandfather|Tom Sykes|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I might as well have pitched a story about Martin Luther King, Jr. philandering with white women.
I Warned You About Bill Cosby in 2007|Mark Ebner|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The same bodyguard, apparently bearing croissants, returns to fetch the never-married philandering leader the next morning.
Hollande's Jilted Lover Valerie Trierweiler Tells All|Tracy McNicoll|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Don returns to his philandering ways, leaving Megan to quietly wonder where her husband has gone.
Every Woman Don Draper’s Hooked Up With on ‘Mad Men’|Amy Zimmerman|April 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But you'll have to pay for it, while she's philandering about with him!
An Old Man's Love|Anthony Trollope
Poor fellow, he'll have a hard job of work on hand just then, and won't have much time for philandering.
Orley Farm|Anthony Trollope
He was interested in her charms, anxious to make love to her in a philandering sort of way, without intending to do her any harm.
The "Genius"|Theodore Dreiser
If our young men do not turn this Scotch girl's head with their philandering, send her to me and I will use her kindly.
The Little Red Foot|Robert W. Chambers
Why didn't you say that at first, instead of philandering along about art.
Roads of Destiny|O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for philander

philander

/ (fɪˈlændə) /

verb

(intr often foll by with) (of a man) to flirt with women

Derived forms of philander

philanderer, nounphilandering, noun, adjective

Word Origin for philander

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

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

philander

OTHER WORDS FOR philander

Origin of philander

OTHER WORDS FROM philander

Words related to philander

How to use philander in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for philander

Derived forms of philander

Word Origin for philander