scopophile

English

Alternative forms

• scopophiliac
• scoptophile
• scoptophiliac

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”) + English -phile.

Noun

scopophile (plural scopophiles)

1. (psychology, sexuality) One with a sexual dependency on openly observing genitalia and sexual acts, as opposed to a voyeur, who watches in secret.

   Caligula was a scopophile who was not ashamed of his irregular desire to watch others making love, while Mr. Hoover, as a voyeur, favored the keyhole and wiretap as methods of observation.

Related terms

• scopophilia

See also

• voyeurism