necrophilia

noun

nec·ro·phil·ia ˌne-krə-ˈfi-lē-ə

: obsession with and usually erotic interest in or stimulation by corpses

necrophiliac

ˌne-krə-ˈfi-lē-ˌak

adjective or noun

necrophilic

ˌne-krə-ˈfi-lik

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German & French; borrowed from German Nekrophilie, borrowed from French nécrophilie, from nécro- necro- + -philie -philia

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of necrophilia was in 1892

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Necrophilia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necrophilia. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

necrophilia

noun

nec·ro·phil·ia ˌnek-rə-ˈfil-ē-ə

: obsession with and usually erotic interest in or stimulation by corpses

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

Listen to the pronunciation of paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!