sadism

[ sey-diz-uh m, sad-iz- ]
/ ˈseɪ dɪz əm, ˈsæd ɪz- /

noun

Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on causing pain or degradation to others. Compare masochism.
any enjoyment in being cruel.
extreme cruelty.

Origin of sadism

1885–90; < French sadisme; see Sade, -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM sadism

sa·dist, noun, adjective sa·dis·tic [suh-dis-tik, sey-, sa-] /səˈdɪs tɪk, seɪ-, sæ-/, adjective

Words nearby sadism

Example sentences from the Web for sadism

British Dictionary definitions for sadism

sadism
/ (ˈseɪdɪzəm, ˈsæ-) /

noun

the gaining of pleasure or sexual gratification from the infliction of pain and mental suffering on another person See also algolagnia Compare masochism

Derived forms of sadism

sadist, noun sadistic (səˈdɪstɪk), adjective sadistically, adverb

Word Origin for sadism

C19: from French, named after the Marquis de Sade

Medical definitions for sadism

sadism
[ sādĭz′əm, sădĭz′- ]

n.

The act or an instance of deriving sexual gratification from infliction of pain on others.
A psychosexual disorder in which sexual gratification is derived from infliction of pain on others.

Other words from sadism

sadist n. sa•distic (sə-dĭstĭk) adj.

Cultural definitions for sadism

sadism
[ (say-diz-uhm, sad-iz-uhm) ]

Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from inflicting pain on others. More loosely, sadism refers to deriving any pleasure from inflicting pain. Named after the Marquis de Sade, a French author of the eighteenth century, whose works describe many sexual perversities.