Definition

A person, usually an adult, who has a sexual attraction to children.

Example

The community took action to protect children from potential harm by reporting any suspected pedophiles.

Conversation

Did you hear about that recent case in the news?

Yeah, it was shocking to learn about a pedophile living nearby.

I can’t believe people like that exist in our community.

It's really disturbing, and we need to be more vigilant.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pedophile → It is formed from "pedo-" (from Greek "pais", meaning child) and "-phile" (from Greek "philia", meaning love or affection). The word describes a person who has a sexual attraction to children.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pedo-' meaning child and '-phile' meaning love — this helps you remember that a pedophile is someone who has an attraction to children.

Visually Confused Words