Pedophile
/ˈpiːdəfaɪl/noun
A person who is sexually attracted to children.
Did you know?The term was coined in modern scholarly usage from Greek roots, but its history is a stark example of how technical vocabulary can sanitize deeply harmful behavior.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
paîs / paid-
“child”
Ancient Greek
Greek
philía / phílos
“love, affection, friend”
Late 19th Century
English
pedophile
“a term formed in modern scholarly and medical contexts for an adult sexually attracted to children”
20th Century
English
pedophile
“the modern English word for a person sexually attracted to children”
Explore more surprising origins