voyeurism

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/ˈvɔɪəˌrɪz(ə)m//vɔɪˈɜːrɪz(ə)m//vwɑˈjɜːrɪz(ə)m/

noun

The derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching unsuspecting people secretly, especially when those being watched are undressed or undressing, toileting, or engaging in sexual activity.

Similar
inspectionism
OriginEnglish voyeur ← French voyeur ← Middle French veoir →
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounvoyeurism (usually uncountable, plural voyeurisms)

plural voyeurisms

  1. uncountableusuallyThe derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching unsuspecting people secretly, especially when those being watched are undressed or undressing, toileting, or engaging in sexual activity.

    Synonyms: inspectionism

  2. broadlyfigurativelyuncountableusuallyThe derivation of satisfaction by obsessively watching or following sensational or sordid subjects.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching unsuspecting people secretly, especially when those being watched are undressed or undressing, toileting, or engaging in sexual activity.

Similar
inspectionism

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*widéh₁yeti
  3. Proto-Italic*widēō
  4. Latinvideō
  5. Old Frenchveoir
  6. Middle Frenchveoir
  7. Frenchvoir
  8. Frenchvoyeur
  9. Englishvoyeur
  10. Englishvoyeurism

From voyeur + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan voyeurisme
  • voyeurismederivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Chinese Mandarin 窺淫狂症 /窥淫狂症, 窥淫癖
  • 窺淫狂症 /窥淫狂症 (kuīyínkuángzhèng)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • 窥淫癖 (kuīyínpǐ)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • 窺視症 /窥视症 (kuīshìzhèng)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • 窺淫 /窥淫 (kuīyín)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Dutch voyeurisme
  • voyeurismederivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Esperanto rigardismo
  • rigardismoderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Finnish tirkistely
  • tirkistelyderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
French voyeurisme
  • voyeurismederivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
German Voyeurismus
  • Voyeurismusderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Greek ηδονοβλεψία
  • ηδονοβλεψία (idonovlepsía)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Hindi दर्शनरति, दृश्यरति
  • दर्शनरति (darśanrati)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • दृश्यरति (dŕśyarati)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Icelandic sjónfróun
  • sjónfróunderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Italian voyeurismo
  • voyeurismoderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Japanese 窃視症
  • 窃視症 (sesshishō)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Polish wojeryzm, oglądactwo
  • wojeryzmderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • oglądactwoderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Portuguese voyeurismo
  • voyeurismoderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Russian вуайери́зм, скопофи́ли́я
  • вуайери́зм (vuajjerízm)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
  • скопофи́ли́я (skopofílíja)derivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Spanish voyerismo
  • voyerismoderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Swedish voyeurism
  • voyeurismderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Turkish röntgencilik
  • röntgencilikderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Vietnamese thị dâm
  • thị dâmderivation of sexual satisfaction by watching people secretly
Cite this entry
APA

voyeurism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/voyeurism

MLA

“voyeurism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/voyeurism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “voyeurism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/voyeurism.

Source: voyeurism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.