masochism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, psychological, literary; occasionally used informally in an exaggerated or hyperbolic way.
Quick answer
What does “masochism” mean?
A psychological condition or behaviour in which someone derives pleasure from their own pain, suffering, or humiliation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychological condition or behaviour in which someone derives pleasure from their own pain, suffering, or humiliation.
More broadly, it describes any behaviour where a person seems to deliberately seek out unpleasant or disadvantageous situations, deriving a perverse satisfaction from them (e.g., 'masochism of the long-distance runner').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Usage differences are minor, primarily stylistic.
Connotations
Slightly more clinical/polite in UK usage; slightly more likely to be used metaphorically/colloquially in US English (e.g., 'job interview masochism').
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, slightly higher in US due to greater prominence of psychological terminology in media.
Grammar
How to Use “masochism” in a Sentence
to have/display/show masochismto be driven by masochisma form/type of masochismmasochism on the part of XVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masochism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He seemed to masochistically relish the constant criticism.
American English
- She masochistically signed up for another marathon despite her knee injury.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically for poor business decisions or tolerating poor work conditions ('Staying with that abusive client is just corporate masochism.').
Academic
Common in psychology, psychoanalysis, literary criticism, and cultural studies, with precise clinical definitions.
Everyday
Used hyperbolically for unpleasant but voluntarily undertaken activities ('Getting up at 5am for yoga is sheer masochism.').
Technical
Specific psychiatric/psychological diagnostic category (e.g., 'Sexual Masochism Disorder' in DSM-5).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masochism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masochism”
- Misspelling as 'maschism', 'machochism'. Confusing with 'macho'. Using it to mean simply 'enduring pain' without the element of deriving gratification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895), an Austrian writer whose novels often depicted characters who enjoyed receiving pain and humiliation.
No. While the term originated in a sexual context and 'sexual masochism disorder' is a clinical diagnosis, the word is now widely used metaphorically to describe any behaviour where gratification is derived from self-inflicted suffering or disadvantage.
Masochism involves deriving pleasure from experiencing pain or humiliation. Sadism is its complementary counterpart: deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or humiliation on others. The two are often combined in the term 'sadomasochism' (S&M).
Yes, in informal contexts. For example, 'My masochism led me to run a marathon in December' uses the term humorously and hyperbolically to describe voluntary, strenuous activity.
A psychological condition or behaviour in which someone derives pleasure from their own pain, suffering, or humiliation.
Masochism is usually formal, psychological, literary; occasionally used informally in an exaggerated or hyperbolic way. in register.
Masochism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæsəkɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæsəˌkɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A glutton for punishment (informal synonym)”
- “Cutting off your nose to spite your face (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MAS' (like 'mass' of pain) + 'OCH' (sounds like 'ache') + 'ISM' (a condition) = a condition of 'aching' or pain.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAIN IS PLEASURE (inversion of a primary metaphor); SUFFERING IS A SOUGHT-AFTER EXPERIENCE.
Practice
Quiz
In a psychological context, masochism is most precisely defined as: