Voluptuous

/vəˈlʌptʃuəs/ adjective

Definition

Having a full, rounded body shape, especially when referring to someone's figure; also means luxurious or sensual.

Etymology

From Latin voluptuous, from voluptas meaning 'pleasure' or 'delight.' The word literally means 'full of pleasure' and originally referred to anything sensually enjoyable or indulgent.

Kelly Says

Voluptuous comes from Latin for 'pleasure,' but over time it became specifically tied to female body descriptions—showing how language can gradually shift what it refers to, and how beauty standards get baked into our vocabulary.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

From Latin voluptas (pleasure). Applied almost exclusively to female bodies since 18th-century literature, framing women's sexuality as spectacle rather than autonomous. Modern usage still predominantly sexualizes women's curves.

Inclusive Usage

Use descriptively for any body type if using at all. Better to describe specific physical attributes (curved, rounded) or avoid when purpose is aesthetic judgment.

Inclusive Alternatives

["curved","full-figured","rounded"]

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