- the gaining of pleasure or sexual gratification from the infliction of pain and mental suffering on another person
See also algolagnia
Compare masochism
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sa•dism /ˈseɪdɪzəm, ˈsædɪz-/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
sa•dis•tic /səˈdɪstɪk/USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Psychiatrysexual pleasure from causing pain to others.
- pleasure in being cruel.
sa•dis•tic /səˈdɪstɪk/USA pronunciation adj.
sa•dism
(sā′diz əm, sad′iz-),USA pronunciation n.
sa′dist, n., adj.
sa•dis•tic
(sə dis′tik, sā-, sa-),USA pronunciation adj.
sa•dis′ti•cal•ly, adv.
- Psychiatrysexual gratification gained through causing pain or degradation to others. Cf. masochism.
- any enjoyment in being cruel.
- extreme cruelty.
- French sadisme; see Sade, -ism
- 1885–90;
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sadism /ˈseɪdɪzəm; ˈsæ-/ n
'sadism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):