zoophilia
1 synonym for zoophilia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A paraphilia in which a person is sexually attracted to non-human animals.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
zoophilism
How to use zoophilia
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
diagnosed with zoophilia
classified as zoophilia
case of zoophilia
the term zoophilia
The word belongs to clinical and psychological writing rather than everyday conversation.
Etymology
The word joins the combining form zoo-, relating to animals, with the suffix -philia, meaning a liking or attraction. Putting the two together gives a term for attraction directed at animals.
Full origin of zoophilia →Frequently asked questions
What is zoophilia?
It is a paraphilia in which someone is sexually attracted to non-human animals.
Is zoophilia the same as bestiality?
The two terms are closely related and often discussed together, but this word specifically names the attraction rather than any act.
Is zoophilia a recognised clinical term?
Yes, it is classed as a paraphilia, a category clinicians use for atypical patterns of sexual attraction.
