fetishism

or fet·ich·ism

[ fet-i-shiz-uh m, fee-ti- ]
/ ˈfɛt ɪˌʃɪz əm, ˈfi tɪ- /

noun

belief in or use of fetishes.
Psychiatry. the compulsive use of some object, or part of the body, as a stimulus in the course of attaining sexual gratification, as a shoe, a lock of hair, or underclothes.
blind devotion: a fetishism of sacrifice to one's children.

Origin of fetishism

First recorded in 1795–1805; fetish + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM fetishism

fet·ish·ist, noun fet·ish·is·tic, adjective fet·ish·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby fetishism

fetial, feticide, fetid, fetiparous, fetish, fetishism, fetishize, fetlock, feto-, fetoglobulin, fetography

Example sentences from the Web for fetichism

British Dictionary definitions for fetichism

fetishism

fetichism

/ (ˈfɛtɪˌʃɪzəm, ˈfiː-) /

noun

a condition in which the handling of an inanimate object or a specific part of the body other than the sexual organs is a source of sexual satisfaction
belief in or recourse to a fetish for magical purposes
excessive attention or attachment to something

Derived forms of fetishism

fetishist or fetichist, noun fetishistic or fetichistic, adjective

Medical definitions for fetichism

fetishism
[ fĕt′ĭ-shĭz′əm, fē′tĭ- ]

n.

The act of using a fetish for sexual arousal and gratification.