WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
sa•do•mas•o•chism /ˌseɪdoʊˈmæsəˌkɪzəm, -ˈmæz-, ˌsædoʊ-/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
sa•do•mas•o•chis•tic, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Medicinepleasure, esp. sexual, gained through causing or receiving pain.
sa•do•mas•o•chis•tic, adj.
sa•do•mas•o•chism
(sā′dō mas′ə kiz′əm, -maz′-, sad′ō-),USA pronunciation n.
sa′do•mas′o•chist, n., adj.
sa′do•mas′o•chis′tic, adj.
- Psychiatry, Medicineinteraction, esp. sexual activity, in which one person enjoys inflicting physical or mental suffering on another person, who derives pleasure from experiencing pain.
- Medicinegratification, esp. sexual, gained through inflicting or receiving pain;
sadism and masochism combined. Abbr.: S-M, S and M
- sad- (see sadism) + -o- + masochism 1930–35
sa′do•mas′o•chis′tic, adj.
'sadomasochistic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):