What does zoophilia mean?
Zoophilia names a strong or excessive sexual attraction to animals. It is used mainly in clinical, psychological, criminological, and literary discussion, especially when describing fantasies, urges, or behavior that centers on animals as sexual objects. The word should be distinguished from bestiality, which refers to sexual acts involving an animal and may occur regardless of the person's underlying motive, and from pedophilia, which concerns sexual interest in children. Zoophilia can also be discussed more broadly in cultural or fictional contexts, where it may describe a theme rather than a clinical diagnosis. Because the term can carry strong social and legal implications, it is usually more appropriate in serious contexts than casual conversation, and claims about an individual should be made cautiously and on clinical authority.
nounA strong or excessive sexual attraction to animals, especially as a form of paraphilia.
- Sexual attraction to animals, especially when treated as a form of paraphilia.
"The clinician described the pattern as zoophilia rather than simple affection for pets."
"The novel examines zoophilia and the ethical limits of human relationships with animals."
"In clinical discussion, zoophilia is distinguished from ordinary affection for animals."
The plural is rare and appears chiefly in specialist writing.
"Rare zoophilias have been reported across a range of animal species."
Zoophilia marks the boundary where attraction toward animals becomes sexual—and where medicine, law, and literature draw very different lines.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does zoophilia come from?
Zoophilia was formed in New Latin from Greek zōion or zōon, meaning “animal,” and -philia, a combining form drawn from Greek philia, meaning “love.” Its relatives in English include zoology, zoologist, and zoogeography, which use the same Greek word for “animal.” In modern medicine and psychology, zoophilia is discussed within the broader category of paraphilias.
Related word forms
How zoophilia is actually used
Primarily a formal clinical, psychological, criminological, or literary term; it is not a casual synonym for liking animals. Its clinical use requires sensitivity because it can carry significant social, ethical, and legal implications.
Easily confused with zoophilia
Zoophilia concerns sexual attraction to animals, whereas pedophilia concerns sexual attraction to children.
Zoophilia describes an attraction or pattern of desire, while bestiality refers to sexual conduct involving an animal.