self-pollution

noun

Masturbation, seen as sinful according to religious dogma.

First used 17th c.
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Meanings

nounself-pollution (uncountable)
  1. obsoleteuncountableMasturbation, seen as sinful according to religious dogma.First known use 17th c.

    The vice consists in any excitement of the genital organs produced otherwise than in the natural way. It is known by the terms, self-pollution, self-abuse, masturbation, onanism, manustupration, voluntary pollution, solitary or secret vice, and other names sufficiently explanatory.

    [1881, John Harvey Kellogg, Plain Facts for Old and Young
    1 more example

    SELF-POLLUTION is that unnatural Practice by which Perſons, of either Sex, may defile their own Bodies without the Aſſiſtance of others, whilſt yielding to filthy Imaginations they endeavour to imitate, and procure to themſelves, that Senſation which God has ordered to attend the carnal Commerce of the two Sexes, for the Continuance of our Species.

    1756, Onania: or, the heinous sin of self-pollution and all its frightful consequences (in both sexes) […] , London: H. Cooke, page 1

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
masturbationself-abuse

Origin

From self- + pollution.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish selvbesmittelse
  • selvbesmittelseobsolete: masturbation
Finnish itsesaastutus
  • itsesaastutusobsolete: masturbation
German Selbstbefleckung
  • Selbstbefleckungobsolete: masturbation
Swedish självbefläckelse
  • självbefläckelseobsolete: masturbation
Cite this entry
APA

self-pollution. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-pollution

MLA

“self-pollution.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-pollution. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “self-pollution,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-pollution.

Source: self-pollution on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.