venereal

UK: /vɪˈnɪərɪəl/ US: /vəˈnɪriəl/ ,(və nēr′ē əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ve•ne•re•al /vəˈnɪriəl/   adj. 

1. Pathology arising from or transmitted through sexual contact, as an infection.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ve•ne•re•al  (və nēr′ē əl), adj. 

1. Pathology arising from, connected with, or transmitted through sexual intercourse, as an infection.
2. Pathology pertaining to conditions so arising.
3. Pathology infected with or suffering from a sexually transmitted disease:
   a venereal patient.
4. Pathology adapted to the cure of such disease:
   a venereal remedy.
5. of or pertaining to sexual desire or intercourse.
6. Drugs serving or tending to excite sexual desire;
   aphrodisiac.

• Latin venere(us) of sexual love (vener-, stem of venus sexual charm (see Venus) + -eus adjective, adjectival suffix) + -al¹
• late Middle English 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

venereal / vɪˈnɪərɪəl/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or infected with venereal disease
2. (of a disease) transmitted by sexual intercourse
3. of, relating to, or involving the genitals
4. of or relating to sexual intercourse or erotic desire; aphrodisiac

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin venereus concerning sexual love, from venus sexual love, from Venus¹