pedophilia /ped′əfil″ē·ə/ [Gk, pais, child, philein, to love] , 1. an abnormal interest in children. 2. (in psychiatry) a psychosexual disorder in which the fantasy or act of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children is the preferred or exclusive means of achieving sexual excitement and gratification. It may be heterosexual or homosexual. Also called pederosis. Also spelled paedophilia. See also paraphilia. −pedophilic, adj.
