Dictionary

pedophile en · NOUN

Pronunciation

[ˈpʰɛ.ɾəˌfaɪ̯ɫ] (Canada, US)
pĕd'-ə-fīl' (Canada, US)
/ˈpɛ.dəʉˌfɑel/ (Australia)
(UK) audio
/ˈpe.dəˌfɑel/ (Australia)
pēd'-ə-fīl' (UK)
pĕd'-ə-fīl' (Australia)
(US) audio
/ˈpiː.dəˌfaɪl/ (UK)
[ˈpʰɛ.ɾoʊ̯ˌfaɪ̯ɫ] (Canada, US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w-der. Proto-Hellenic *pā́wits Ancient Greek παιδ- (paid-)lbor. English pedo- Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *bʰil-o-s Ancient Greek φίλος (phílos)bor. Latin -philalbor. English -phile ▲ Ancient Greek παῖς (paîs) ▲ Ancient Greek φῐ́λος (phĭ́los) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek φῐλέω (phĭléō) Ancient Greek παιδοφῐ́λης (paidophĭ́lēs)der. English pedophile From pedo- (“child”) + -phile, after Ancient Greek παιδοφῐ́λης (paidophĭ́lēs) (from παῖς (paîs, “boy, child”) + φιλέω (philéō, “to love”)).

Meanings

(US) An adult or older adolescent who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children.
- Apart from his sexual behavior, the pedophile is typically law abiding. 1982, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice Abstracts, volume 14, page 253:
- He uses trolling techniques to fight back against trolls that he particularly finds malevolent—specifically pedophiles and RIP trolls. 2018, Jill Anne Morris, The Internet as a Game:
- The pedophile, a particular type of child molester, is an adult whose conscious sexual interests and overt sexual behavior are directly either partially or exclusively toward children. 1986, Patrick B. McGuigan, Jon S. Pascale, Crime and Punishment in Modern America, page 109:
(US, broadly, derogatory, qualifier:common use) An adult who is sexually attracted to or engages in sexual acts with a child under the age of consent.
- Although the Holy See publicly expressed its rejection of sexual abuse and pedophilia and expressed its commitment to cooperate with civil authorities when cases of pedophile priests were found¹², there are no known cases of bishops or cardinals, being found responsible for abusing children or covering up for pedophilia in their parishes. […] These ecclesiastic norms were the basis of the behaviors displayed by the religious authorities of Mexico and other countries, in order to cover up for pedophiles and their crimes committed against many children for a long time and in many different places. 2013 December 14, “Clerical Pedophilia by Mexicans in Mexico and Other Countries”, in CNN en Español, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2025, pages 10, 23:
- Multiple users on Truth Social responded to Trump’s post, calling for him to release more information. “You’re losing your most loyal followers and voices Mr President,” said one post. “Why are you protecting pedophiles?” said another post. 2025 July 17, Oliver Holmes, “Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’”, in The Guardian:
(US, broadly, derogatory, nonstandard) A consumer of lewd artwork of characters under the age of consent.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
pedophiles	Number=Plur		lexicographic
pædophile		alternative, dated	lexicographic
paedophile		UK, alternative	lexicographic

Translations (74)

el παιδεραστής (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · az uşaqbaz (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ru педофи́л (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ja 幼児性愛者 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ka პედოფილი (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sv peddo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · da pædofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · gl pedófila (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · be педафі́л (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · bg педофи́лка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · pl pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · id pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · nb pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · lv pedofils (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · fi pedofiili (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · mk педофи́лка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · de Pädophiler (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · it paidofilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sl pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · pt pedófila (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · wa margougneu d’ efant (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ro pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · he פֶּדוֹפִיל (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ru педофи́лка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · el παιδοφῐ́λης (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · uk педофі́л (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sq pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ko 소아 성애자 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · cmn 戀童癖患者 /恋童癖患者 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · mk педофи́л (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · az pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sk pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · pt pedófilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · hy մանկապիղծ (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ro pedofilă (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · gl pedófilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · eo pedofilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · it pedofilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · cs pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · nl pedofiel (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sh pedofilka (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ja ロリコン (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · scn pitòfilu (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · is barnaníðingur (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · cy pedoffilydd (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ab ахәыҷыбзиабаҩ (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · be педафі́лка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · vi người ái nhi (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · hu pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ga péidifileach (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ja 小児性愛者 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · yue 戀童癖患者 /恋童癖患者 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ca pedòfil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · et pedofiil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · fr pédophile (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · tr pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · bg педофи́л (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · kk педофил (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · es pedófila (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ca pedòfila (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · uz pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · tr sübyancı (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · uk педофі́лка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sh педофилка (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · lt pedofilas (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sh pedòfīl (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ab апедофил (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · yue 金魚佬 /金鱼佬 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ky педофил (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · ja 小児愛者 (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · de Pädophile (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sv pedofil (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · es pedófilo (an adult who is sexually attracted to children) · sh педо̀фӣл (an adult who is sexually attracted to children)

pedophile en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

Hyponyms

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (74)