What does paederast mean?
Paederast is a now-obsolete noun meaning a male homosexual pederast: an adult man who engaged in sexual activity with boys. The word was formerly used in medical, legal, and literary contexts, sometimes as a formal diagnostic or criminal category rather than simply as an insult. Today it is regarded as derogatory and appears mainly in historical sources or discussions of historical terminology. It should therefore be used with care, particularly when quoting or interpreting older writing. The related word paederasty denotes the practice or condition rather than the individual, while paederastic is the corresponding adjective. In modern writing, precise legal and clinical terms are normally preferred when describing sexual abuse or exploitation of minors, because such abuse can involve victims of any sex and should not be treated solely through the lens of the older term's homosexual emphasis.
nounA male homosexual pederast. The term is now chiefly historical and offensive.
- A male homosexual pederast, now chiefly historical and offensive.
"The nineteenth-century text describes the witness as a paederast."
"The police file identifies him as a paederast and describes his arrest."
"In Victorian literature, the word paederast was used to describe a man who engaged in sex with boys."
The plural is paederasts, though the term itself is now chiefly historical and offensive.
"The text refers to several paederasts without naming them."
Once used in legal and medical writing as a formal label, paederast is now remembered chiefly as a historical and derogatory term.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paederast come from?
Paederast comes through Latin from Greek paiderastēs, formed from pais, meaning “boy” or “youth,” and erastēs, meaning “lover.” The compound literally conveyed the notion of a lover of boys. English usage developed chiefly in medical, legal, and literary contexts. Its modern associations are shaped largely by the historical use of the term and by its present offensive status.
Related word forms
How paederast is actually used
The term is obsolete as an ordinary descriptive label and is considered offensive. It survives mainly in older texts, legal or medical history, and discussions of historical language.