Definition
A person, usually a man, who flirts with or pursues romantic relationships with many different people without serious intentions.
Etymology
From Greek 'philo-' (love) and 'ander' (man), literally 'lover of men.' Ironically, it was created to describe men who love many women, giving it a playfully twisted meaning.
Kelly Says
The word 'philanderer' was actually invented as a playful pun in 1730s London society—Greek scholars loved making up dramatic words to describe society scandals!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንደ አንድ ሰው
en-de an-d se-w
CACatalà
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
CSČeština
nevřest
ne-vrest
DADansk
utroskab
u-tro-ska-b
DEDeutsch
Ehebrecher
e-he-bre-cher
ELΕλληνικά
ερωτικός
e-ro-ti-kos
ESEspañol
amante
a-man-te
FISuomi
uskollinen
u-sok-ki-nen
FRFrançais
infidèle
in-fi-del
HAHA
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
HIहिन्दी
वफ़ादार
va-fa-da-ar
IDBahasa Indonesia
pengkhianat
peng-khi-a-nat
IGIG
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
ITItaliano
adultero
a-dul-te-ro
KKKK
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
KO한국어
부정부패자
bu-jeong-bu-pae-ja
MSBahasa Melayu
pengkhianat
peng-khi-a-nat
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော်
kyun-taw
NLNederlands
overtrouwe
o-ver-trou-we
NONorsk
uaktslig
u-akts-lig
PLPolski
cudzołózec
cu-do-lo-zec
PTPortuguês
infiel
in-fi-el
RORomână
infidel
in-fi-del
RUРусский
изменщик
iz-men-shchik
SVSvenska
otrogen
o-tro-gen
SWKiswahili
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
TAதமிழ்
காதல் கொள்ளும்
ka-dal ko-llum
TEతెలుగు
ప్రేమలో పడిన
pre-ma-lo pa-di-na
THไทย
ผู้เจ้าชู้
phu-chao-choo
TLTL
mang-a-li-ng
mang-a-li-ng
TRTürkçe
sadakatsiz
sa-da-ket-siz
UKУкраїнська
зрадник
zra-dnik
VITiếng Việt
người trăng
nguoi trang
YOYO
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
ZUZU
philanderer
fi-lan-de-rer
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Philanderer historically applied almost exclusively to men despite both genders engaging in infidelity; language coded sexual behavior as male prerogative while women faced harsher judgment under terms like 'loose' or 'promiscuous.' The word's neutrality toward male subjects while harsh alternatives targeted women reflects unequal moral scrutiny.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'serial dater,' 'unfaithful partner,' or 'someone who pursues multiple romantic interests' to describe behavior without gendered moral coding.
Inclusive Alternatives
["unfaithful partner","serial dater","someone who pursues multiple affairs"]