androphilic
|an-dro-phil-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.drəˈfɪlɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.drɒˈfɪlɪk/
attracted to men
Etymology
'androphilic' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'andr(o)-' and 'philos', where 'andr-' meant 'man' and 'philos' meant 'loving'.
'androphilic' was formed in modern English by combining the Greek-derived combining form 'andro-' with the suffix '-philic' (via Neo-Latin/medical coinage), and came into use in scientific and descriptive contexts before appearing in broader usage.
Initially it meant 'having an affinity for males' in technical descriptions; over time this core meaning has persisted while usage broadened to include both sexual-orientation and general-preference senses.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
sexually attracted to men; having a sexual preference for adult males.
He described his orientation as androphilic.
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Adjective 2
showing a preference or affinity for males in non-sexual or scientific contexts (e.g., when an organism or process favors males).
Some researchers described the insect's behavior as androphilic, because it predominantly visited male plants.
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Last updated: 2025/10/12 02:01