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zoophilia

American  
[zoh-uh-fil-ee-uh] / ˌzoʊ əˈfɪl i ə /

noun

  1. the state of being zoophilous.

  2. Psychology. an abnormal fondness or preference for animals.

zoophilia British  
/ ˌzəʊəˈfɪlɪə /

noun

  1. a morbid condition in which a person has a sexual attraction to animals; bestiality

"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

Etymology

Origin of zoophilia

First recorded in 1895–1900; zoo- + -philia

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.

While watching “For Want of a Horse,” I recalled a program on PBS called “My Wild Affair” that wasn’t about zoophilia but about the problematic nature of human bonds with untamed animals.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

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.