masturbation

plural masturbations

1. uncountableusuallySexual stimulation of one's genitalia or other erotic regions, often to the point of orgasm.

   Masturbation is fun and natural. Not to mention it's a great way to earn five bucks without touchin' the guy.

   2005, Jon Kimmel, Clum Babies (Drawn Together), season 2, episode 5, spoken by Foxxy Love (Cree Summer), via Comedy Central

   3 more examples

   Diogenes in sight of all, exercising his Masturbation, bred a longing desire in the bystanders, that in such sort they might fill their bellies by rubbing or clawing the same.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   While masturbation was never favored in Judeo-Christian tradition, Victorian morality, along with the Great Awakening and other religious revivals in America, created a perfect storm for people to really get obsessed with it.

   2023 January 18, Matt Soniak, “When Corn Flakes Were Part of an Anti-Masturbation Crusade”, in Mental Floss, archived from the original on 08 Apr 2025

   “Our big finding is that masturbation is not a negative response to captivity,” said Dr Chloe Heys, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Lancashire in Preston. “This is widespread in birds and we found it’s a perfectly natural and healthy behaviour that’s part of their repertoire of sexual behaviours.”¶Researchers historically tended to assume birds either did not masturbate or did so only under the stress of captivity. But Heys said the behaviour was quite common and distinctive. “I had a pet cockatiel that masturbated all the time,” she said. “If you’ve ever seen a bird masturbate, you absolutely know what that bird is doing.”

   2026 June 1, Ian Sample, “Masturbation among birds is ‘natural’ and should not be punished, say experts”, in The Guardian, spoken by Dr. Chloe Heys, archived from the original on 01 Jun 2026

   Synonyms: onanism, self-abuse

2. broadlyuncountableusuallyThe stimulation of another person's genitals using the hands.
3. derogatoryfigurativelyuncountableusuallyA vain activity that serves only to provide self-indulgent satisfaction without any practical or external value.

   That experimental film was nothing more than intellectual masturbation for the director.

   1 more example

   So call me antisocial, call it masturbation Either way, it's a solo operation I'm just far more comfortable alone

   2013, Days N' Daze, “Misanthropic Drunken Loner”, in Rogue Taxidermy