First Known Use: 1892
Dictionary
masochism
noun mas·och·ism \ˈma-sə-ˌki-zəm, ˈma-zə- also ˈmā-\
: enjoyment of pain : pleasure that someone gets from being abused or hurt; especially : sexual enjoyment from being hurt or punished
Full Definition of MASOCHISM
1
: a sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in being subjected to pain or humiliation especially by a love object — compare sadism
2
: pleasure in being abused or dominated : a taste for suffering
— mas·och·ist \-kist\ noun
— mas·och·is·tic \ˌma-sə-ˈkis-tik, ˌma-zə- also ˌmā-\ adjective
— mas·och·is·ti·cal·ly \-ˈkis-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
See masochism defined for English-language learners
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Origin of MASOCHISM
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch †1895 German novelist
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with MASOCHISM
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Medical Dictionary
masochism
noun mas·och·ism \ˈmas-ə-ˌkiz-əm, ˈmaz-\
Medical Definition of MASOCHISM
: a sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in being subjected to pain or humiliation especially by a love object—compare algolagnia, sadism
—mas·och·is·tic \ˌmas-ə-ˈkis-tik, ˌmaz-\ adjective
—mas·och·is·ti·cal·ly \ˌmas-ə-ˈkis-ti-k(ə-)lē, ˌmaz-\ adverb
Biographical Note for MASOCHISM
Sa·cher–Ma·soch \ˈzäḵ-ər-ˈmäz-ȯḵ\ , Leopold von (1836–1895), Austrian novelist. Sacher-Masoch is most famous for his erotic novels. In these novels the characters dwell at length on sexual pleasure derived from pain. The subject matter reflects Sacher-Masoch's personal life. He had two wives and several mistresses with whom he acted out the sexual fantasies described in his fictional works. By 1893 masochism was an established medical term.
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