First Known Use: 1900
Dictionary
voyeur
noun voy·eur \vwä-ˈyər, vȯi-ˈər\
: a person who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching other people have sex
: a person who likes seeing and talking or writing about something that is considered to be private
Full Definition of VOYEUR
1
: one obtaining sexual gratification from observing unsuspecting individuals who are partly undressed, naked, or engaged in sexual acts; broadly : one who habitually seeks sexual stimulation by visual means
2
: a prying observer who is usually seeking the sordid or the scandalous
— voy·eur·ism \-ˌi-zəm\ noun
— voy·eur·is·tic \ˌvwä-(ˌ)yər-ˈis-tik, ˌvȯi-ər-\ adjective
— voy·eur·is·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
See voyeur defined for English-language learners
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of VOYEUR
French, literally, one who sees, from Middle French, from voir to see, from Latin vidēre — more at wit
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with VOYEUR
as per, astir, auteur, aver, bestir, Big Sur, Bonheur, chasseur, chauffeur, claqueur, coiffeur, concur, confer, Crèvecoeur, danseur, defer, demur, deter, douceur, du jour, farceur, flaneur, frondeur, hauteur, him/her, his/her, incur, infer, inter, jongleur, larkspur, liqueur, longspur, masseur, millefleur, occur, Pasteur, poseur, prefer, recur, refer, sandbur, sandspur, seigneur, transfer, white fir
Medical Dictionary
voyeur
noun voy·eur \vwä-ˈyər, vȯi-ˈər\
Medical Definition of VOYEUR
: one obtaining sexual gratification from observing unsuspecting individuals who are partly undressed, naked, or engaged in sexual acts; broadly : one who habitually seeks sexual stimulation by visual means
Learn More About VOYEUR
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up voyeur? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).