noun

voyeur

voy-YUR

Voyeur (noun) means a person who gets sexual gratification from secretly watching others undress or engage in intimate acts. Example: “The neighbours grew suspicious of the voyeur peering through their blinds.”

noun

A person who gets sexual gratification from secretly watching others undress or engage in intimate acts.

"The neighbours grew suspicious of the voyeur peering through their blinds."

Someone who is unusually interested in watching other people's private, dramatic, or sordid lives.

"Reality TV turns its audience into voyeurs of other people's messy relationships."

How to Use Voyeur

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who gets a thrill from watching — sexually, or just from nosing into other people's drama.

Common pairings

a voyeur's thrill act as a voyeur

Word Forms

voyeurs plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The neighbours grew suspicious of the _____ peering through their blinds.

Etymology

From French voyeur, from voir, "to see."

Origin: French

Synonyms

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peeping tom snoop watcher busybody

Related Words

witness observer gossip viewer snoop watchdog busybody watcher

Rhymes for voyeur

fleur masseur amateur liqueur Pasteur Lafleur saboteur monsieur grandeur raconteur chauffeur connoisseur

See all rhymes for voyeur →

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a 'voyeur' and someone who's just curious?

Curiosity is a general interest in others, while 'voyeur' implies a more intense, often secretive fixation on watching private, intimate, or dramatic moments in other people's lives.

What is 'voyeurism' and how does it relate to 'voyeur'?

'Voyeurism' is the noun describing the behavior or practice itself, while a 'voyeur' is the person who engages in it — the two words share the same root meaning.

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witness observer gossip viewer snoop watchdog busybody watcher