pedophile

• paedophile (British)
• pædophile (dated)

From pedo- (“child”) +‎ -phile, after Ancient Greek παιδοφῐ́λης (paidophĭ́lēs) (from παῖς (paîs, “boy, child”) +‎ φιλέω (philéō, “I love”)).

• (UK) enPR: pēd'-ə-fīl', IPA^(key): /ˈpiː.dəˌfaɪl/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• (US, Canada) enPR: pĕd'-ə-fīl', IPA^(key): /ˈpɛ.dəˌfaɪl/, /ˈpɛ.doʊˌfaɪl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• (General Australian) enPR: pĕd'-ə-fīl', IPA^(key): /ˈpe.dəˌfɑel/, /ˈpɛ.dəʉˌfɑel/

pedophile (plural pedophiles) (American spelling)

1. (psychiatry, sexology) A person aged 16 or older who is mostly or only sexually attracted toward prepubescent children. [from 20th c.]
   • 1982, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice Abstracts, volume 14, page 253:

     Apart from his sexual behavior, the pedophile is typically law abiding.

   • 1986, Patrick B. McGuigan, Jon S. Pascale, Crime and Punishment in Modern America, page 109:

     The pedophile, a particular type of child molester, is an adult whose conscious sexual interests and overt sexual behavior are directly either partially or exclusively toward children.

   • 2018, Jill Anne Morris, The Internet as a Game:

     He uses trolling techniques to fight back against trolls that he particularly finds malevolent—specifically pedophiles and RIP trolls.

2. (by extension, common use) An adult who is sexually attracted to or engages in sexual acts with a child.
   • 2013 December, “Clerical Pedophilia by Mexicans in Mexico and Other Countries”, in CNN en Español‎^[1], pages 10, 23:

     Although the Holy See publicly expressed its rejection of sexual abuse and pedophilia and expressed its commitment to cooperate with civil authorities when cases of pedophile priests were found¹², there are no known cases of bishops or cardinals, being found responsible for abusing children or covering up for pedophilia in their parishes. […] These ecclesiastic norms were the basis of the behaviors displayed by the religious authorities of Mexico and other countries, in order to cover up for pedophiles and their crimes committed against many children for a long time and in many different places.

   • 2025 July 17, Oliver Holmes, “Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     Multiple users on Truth Social responded to Trump’s post, calling for him to release more information. “You’re losing your most loyal followers and voices Mr President,” said one post. “Why are you protecting pedophiles?” said another post.

• In the US, the official psychiatric designation for pedophilia (according to the DSM-IV) is: "Over a period of at least six months, recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children."

• childlover (euphemistic)

• teleiophile

• mysoped (“a sadistic pedophile”)
• korephile
• nepiophile