Nymphomaniac
/ˌnɪm.fəˈmeɪ.ni.æk/noun
A person, typically a woman in older usage, who is considered to have an obsessive or excessive sexual drive.
Did you know?The second half comes from Greek mania, the same root behind words like “mania” and “maniac,” a term once used broadly for divine frenzy, madness, and overpowering obsession.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
nymphē
“a bride, young woman, or nymph”
Ancient Greek
Greek
manía
“madness, frenzy, or inspired obsession”
Late Greek
Greek
nymphománēs
“frenzied with desire for women; sexually obsessed”
17th-18th Century
French/English
nymphomane
“a person thought to be sexually obsessed”
19th Century
English
nymphomaniac
“a person regarded as having excessive sexual desire”
Modern English
English
nymphomaniac
“a person with an obsessive or excessive sexual drive”
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