pornography

[ pawr-nog-ruh-fee ]

noun

1. sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.

pornography

/ pɔːˈnɒɡrəfɪ; ˌpɔːnəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. writings, pictures, films, etc, designed to stimulate sexual excitement
2. the production of such material

pornography

1. Books, photographs, magazines, art, or music designed to excite sexual impulses and considered by public authorities or public opinion as in violation of accepted standards of sexual morality. American courts have not yet settled on a satisfactory definition of what constitutes pornographic material. ( See obscenity .)

Derived Forms

• porˈnographer, noun
• pornographic, adjective
• ˌpornoˈgraphically, adverb

Other Words From

• por·no·graph·ic [pawr-n, uh, -, graf, -ik], adjective
• porno·graphi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·porno·graphic adjective
• anti·por·nogra·phy noun adjective
• nonpor·no·graphic adjective
• unpor·no·graphic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pornography¹

1840–50; < Greek pornográph ( os ) writing about harlots ( porno-, combining form of pórnē harlot + -graphos -graph ) + -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of pornography¹

C19: from Greek pornographos writing of harlots, from pornē a harlot + graphein to write

Example Sentences

With its alcoholic, drug-addicted, suicidal ensemble of seeming thousands, I registered it as taboo — like pornography, or my nascent interest in other boys, a secret to be kept from others.

From Los Angeles Times

Some Democrats defended Biden’s action, noting that Trump had his own challenges, including his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the hush money case involving his relationship with pornography star Stormy Daniels.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of the answers revolved around sex: naked photos, sex toys, pornography, dirty notes and sexts.

From Los Angeles Times

"The numbers of clients seeking help with pornography problems at The Laurel Centre have doubled over recent years, as have our requests from health professionals for further training," she tells the BBC.

From BBC

A Northern Ireland Executive online safety strategy for young people had previously expressed concern over exposure to pornography online.

From BBC

Related Words

• smut