Definition
To have romantic or sexual relationships with multiple people while in a committed relationship; cheating.
Etymology
From Greek 'philos' meaning 'lover' and 'andros' meaning 'man,' originally meant 'lover of mankind' but evolved to mean unfaithful romantic behavior.
Kelly Says
The word started as somewhat innocent—just meaning to be friendly with others—but by the 1700s it had darkened to describe infidelity, showing how society's judgment about these relationships intensified over time.
Translations
BNবাংলা
বিবাহবিরোধী
bi-bah-bi-roh-dee
CACatalà
infidelitat
in-fee-dee-li-tat
CSČeština
nezávislost
ne-za-vis-lost
DADansk
utroskab
u-tro-ska-b
DEDeutsch
Ehebruch
eh-bru-kh
ELΕλληνικά
μοιχεία
moi-chia
ESEspañol
infidelidad
in-fee-deh-lee-dad
FAفارسی
بی وفایی
bee-o-fa-ai
FISuomi
petollisuus
pe-to-lis-uus
FRFrançais
adultère
ad-ul-te-re
HAHA
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
HEעברית
גילוי נאות
giluy no'at
HIहिन्दी
विवाह-विरोधी
vee-vah-vee-roh-dee
HUMagyar
házasságtörés
ha-zas-sag-to-res
IDBahasa Indonesia
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
IGIG
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
ITItaliano
adulterio
ad-ul-te-ri-o
JA日本語
不倫関係
fu-ren-kan-kei
KKKK
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
KMKM
អ្នកប្រយ័ត្ន
an-k-b-ray-otn
MSBahasa Melayu
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော်
kyun taw
NLNederlands
overspel
o-ver-spel
NONorsk
utroskap
u-tro-ska-p
PLPolski
cudzołóstwo
t-sh-do-lo-st-vo
PTPortuguês
adultério
ad-ul-te-ri-o
RORomână
infidelitate
in-fee-dee-li-tate
RUРусский
прелюбодеяние
pre-lyu-bo-de-ya-niye
SWKiswahili
ubaya
u-ba-ya
TEతెలుగు
వివాహవిరుద్ధ
vi-va-ha-vi-rud-dha
TLTL
pag-a-li-li
pa-ga-li-li
TRTürkçe
sadakatsiz
sa-dak-at-siz
VITiếng Việt
ngoài giá
ngoai-gia
YOYO
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
ZUZU
perselingkuhan
per-se-lin-ku-han
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically applied primarily to men's infidelity with social tolerance or even admiration; women's equivalent behavior was condemned as immoral. Language asymmetry reflects unequal sexual standards.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'infidelity' or 'betrayal of trust' for neutral framing; reserve 'philandering' if deliberately invoking its gendered historical tone.
Inclusive Alternatives
["infidelity","unfaithfulness","betrayal"]
Empowerment Note
Women challenged the double standard; modern ethics reject gendered judgments of sexual conduct.