What does bestiality mean?
Bestiality is a noun with two related senses. Its dominant modern meaning, especially in legal and journalistic contexts, is sexual contact between a human and an animal — an act treated as a criminal offence in most jurisdictions. A second, older sense denotes behaviour marked by brutal, savage cruelty, as though the person had abandoned human restraint for something beast-like. The word derives from Latin 'bestialis', meaning 'of beasts', via Old French, and shares its root with the adjective 'bestial' and adverb 'bestially'. Because of its taboo primary sense, the word is rarely used casually; writers who mean simply 'extreme cruelty' usually prefer 'brutality', 'savagery', or 'barbarity'. Understanding the distinction matters: describing violence as bestiality can carry unintended implications, so careful speakers reserve the word for contexts where its specific meanings are clearly intended.
nounSexual activity or relations between a human and an animal; more broadly, behaviour that is cruel, brutal, or savagely animal-like in nature.
- Sexual intercourse or other sexual contact between a human being and an animal, especially as defined in law.
- Behaviour or conduct that is brutally cruel, savage, or characteristic of a beast rather than a rational human being.
"The novel's depiction of cruelty toward the animals was condemned by critics as sheer bestiality."
"In many jurisdictions, bestiality is a criminal offence carrying severe legal penalties."
"Witnesses described the massacre with horror, calling it an act of pure bestiality."
Rarely used in the plural; the word normally functions as an uncountable mass noun. A plural form may appear in literary or rhetorical contexts to denote multiple distinct acts or instances.
"The chronicle catalogued the bestialities committed during the siege."
The word 'beast' at its heart comes from Latin 'bestia', but English borrowed 'bestiality' via French — making it one of those words whose everyday sense (cruelty) is far older in usage than its legal sense.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bestiality
Bestiality derives from Latin 'bestialis' ('of beasts'), formed from 'bestia' ('beast'), entering English through Old French 'bestialité' in the early modern period. Its figurative sense of brutal, beast-like conduct was established first, and the specific legal-medical sense of sexual relations between humans and animals developed alongside it. It shares its Latin root with the adjective 'bestial' and the adverb 'bestially'.
Related word forms
How bestiality is actually used
Both senses are formal or technical in register. The primary sense carries strong taboo connotations and appears mainly in legal, medical, or journalistic contexts. The secondary sense ('cruel, beast-like conduct') is now somewhat dated or literary, having largely been replaced by words such as 'brutality' or 'savagery'.
Easily confused with bestiality
Zoophilia is a clinical term for a persistent sexual attraction to animals, while bestiality refers to the act itself and is the term used in legal contexts.
Bestial is an adjective meaning cruel or savage like a beast, whereas bestiality is a noun referring either to that quality of conduct or specifically to sexual contact between humans and animals.