Meanings
- CanadaUSformalrareuncountablelifestyleA kink or fetish in which arousal is derived from diapers, especially wearing them; a kink in which one engages in diaperplay; diaper fetishism, ABDL.
Paraphilias AUTONEPIOPHILIA* (Diaperism)
1986, John Money, Venuses Penuses: Sexology, Sexosophy, and Exigency Theory, Prometheus Books, →ISBN, page 4414 more examples
Based on the lovemap concept, [John] Money has developed a typology of paraphilias (perversions) each with their own lovemap (e.g. autonepiophilia - diaperism; hyphephilia - lover of fabrics). Each also follows certain strategies of sexual response.
1991, Stephen J. Gould, “Toward a theory of sexuality and consumption: Consumer lovemaps”, in Rebecca H. Holman, Michael R. Solomon, editor, Advances in Consumer Research, volume XVIII, Association for Consumer Research, →ISBN, page 381Some adults are interested in sexual play activity in which they pretend to be helpless infants. Sometimes, the people involved in this play will wear diapers (diaperism) and drink milk from a baby bottle capped with a nipple. Sometimes, a willing female partner will permit her partner to suckle at her breast while pouring milk onto her breast to simulate lactation.
2001, Stephen T. Holmes, Ronald M. Holmes, Sex Crimes: Patterns and Behaviour, 2 edition, Sage Publications, →ISBN, page 72Homosexuality, more than any other atypical sexual interest, has achieved greater social acceptance over time, and advocates for other atypical sexual interests—BDSM, cross-dressing, diaperism, etc.—understandably seek the same recognition and rights.
2012 January 27, James M. Cantor, “Is Homosexuality a Paraphilia? The Evidence For and Against”, in Archives of Sexual Behavior, volume 41, International Academy of Sex Research, →DOI, Abstract, page 237Paraphilic Infantilism, Diaperism and Pedophilia constitute major portion among them. Paraphilic infantilism denotes paraphilic desire of being a baby. Diaperism deals with fetishistic behaviour in relation to diapers and pedophilia stands for sexual attraction towards children. Behaviourally these three paraphilias do share some characteristics and show overlapping of certain features, but psychologically they are diverse.
2018 March 2, Sunil M. Doshi, Kalpesh Zanzrukiya, Lavlesh Kumar, “Paraphilic infantilism, diaperism and pedophilia: A review”, in Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, volume 56, →DOI, Abstract, page 12Synonyms: ABDL
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA kink or fetish in which arousal is derived from diapers, especially wearing them; a kink in which one engages in diaperplay; diaper fetishism, ABDL.
Origin
From diaper + -ism. Coined by New Zealand-American psychologist and sexologist John Money in 1986 (see quotations).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish vaippafetissi
- vaippafetissifetish for wearing diapers
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with diaperism
Anagrams
Cite this entry
diaperism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diaperism
“diaperism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diaperism. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diaperism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diaperism.
Source: diaperism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.