lycanthropy
Americannoun
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a delusion in which one imagines oneself to be a wolf or other wild animal.
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the supposed or fabled assumption of the appearance of a wolf by a human being.
noun
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the supposed magical transformation of a person into a wolf
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psychiatry a delusion in which a person believes that he is a wolf
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lycanthropy
From the Greek word lykanthrōpía, dating back to 1575–85. See lycanthrope, -y 3
Explanation
Lycanthropy is the process of transforming into a werewolf, so if you're suddenly overcome with an urge to howl at the moon, you might be in the throes of lycanthropy! If you love werewolf stories or movies, you can be fancy and say you're a fan of lycanthropy narratives. Long ago, this word was used for a mental illnesses in which a patient truly believed themselves to be a wolf. Lycanthropy comes from a Greek root, lykanthropos, or "wolf man," from lykos, "wolf," and anthrōpos, "man."
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.
“Animate” includes a fascinating chapter on clinical lycanthropy, a psychiatric condition in which the sufferer believes that he or she is an animal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
This laudable goal comes with no small risk, but one simple threat is perhaps not taken seriously enough: What if someone on one of these flights is stricken with lycanthropy?
From Scientific American ● Oct. 27, 2023
His sister Clemence’s novella, “The Were-Wolf ,” is one of the most powerful stories ever written about lycanthropy.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 10, 2017
As Silver charts realms of quackery and freak shows, lycanthropy and psychoanalysis, indoor plumbing and urban waterworks, she eventually brings together the pieces of this story like glass in a kaleidoscope patterning and coalescing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2016
Unlike bites, werewolf claw marks wouldn’t transmit lycanthropy, but Reyna knew firsthand that they healed slowly and burned like acid.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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