Meanings
- uncountablehuman sciencesA psychological disorder characterized by the intense and long-standing desire for amputation of a specific limb.
Antonyms: apotemnophobia
- uncountablehuman sciencesA compulsion to become, or appear to be, an amputee.
News of the Weird has reported several times on people with apotemnophilia, or body integrity identity disorder--the consuming desire to have one or more healthy limbs removed.
2007 February 23, Chuck Shepherd, “News of the Weird”, in Chicago Reader2 more examples
This paper seeks to present information on apotemnophilia. It points out the need of a man to have a healthy leg amputated, despite the fact that he cannot find a surgeon who will do so.
1983, W. Everaerd, “A case of apotemnophilia: a handicap as sexual preference”, in American Journal of Psychotherapy, volume 7, number 2, page 285In most cases of apotemnophilia the desire to be an amputee is linked to a form of sexual arousal, but Mr Smith said there was no suggestion that any of his patients were motivated by sexual urges.
2000 February 1, Gerard Seenan, “Healthy limbs cut off at patients' request”, in The Guardian
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA psychological disorder characterized by the intense and long-standing desire for amputation of a specific limb.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀπό“away”
- Englishapotemnophilia
Coined in a paper in 1977 by J. Money et al. in the Journal of Sex Research,http://www.jstor.org/pss/3811894, from Ancient Greek ἀπό (apó, “away”) + τέμνω (témnō, “cut”) + -philia.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish apotemnofilia
- apotemnofiliacompulsion to become an amputee
German Apotemnophilie
- Apotemnophiliecompulsion to become an amputee
Portuguese apotemnofilia
- apotemnofiliacompulsion to become an amputee
Spanish apotemnofilia
- apotemnofiliacompulsion to become an amputee
Swedish apotemnofili
- apotemnofilicompulsion to become an amputee
Turkish apotemnofili
- apotemnofilicompulsion to become an amputee
Cite this entry
apotemnophilia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apotemnophilia
“apotemnophilia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apotemnophilia. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apotemnophilia,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apotemnophilia.
Source: apotemnophilia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.