Word
masturbation
Phoneticsmas·tur·ba·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌmæstɝˈbeɪʃən/
UK/mˌɑːstəbˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01sexual self-stimulation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of touching or rubbing your own sexual organs for pleasure.
n. sexual stimulation of one's own genitalia or other erotic regions, often resulting in orgasm.
“Many doctors agree that masturbation is a normal and healthy part of human sexuality.”
“The survey aimed to collect data on the frequency of masturbation among different age groups to better understand sexual health trends.”
Synonyms
02self-indulgent activity
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal · Humorous
n. an activity that feels good to the person doing it but is useless to everyone else.
n. a vain or self-indulgent activity that provides personal satisfaction without offering any practical or external value.
“The long, boring speech was just a piece of intellectual masturbation.”
“Critics dismissed the director's latest three-hour experimental film as nothing more than cinematic masturbation that ignored the audience entirely.”
Synonyms
Usage
Uncountable in its general sense; rarely used in the plural.
Etymology
Borrowed from French masturbation, New Latin masturbātiō, masturbātiōnem. By surface analysis, masturbat(e) + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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