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Pyromania: meaning, definitions and examples

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pyromania

 

[ ˌpaɪrəˈmeɪniə ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental disorder

Pyromania is a psychological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to set fires. Individuals with this condition often derive pleasure or relief from the act of setting and watching fires. It is classified as a type of impulse control disorder in psychiatric literature.

Synonyms

arson addiction, fire-setting disorder

Examples of usage

  • He was diagnosed with pyromania after the fire incident.
  • Pyromania can lead to severe legal consequences.
  • Medical professionals often recommend therapy for those suffering from pyromania.

Translations

Translations of the word "pyromania" in other languages:

🇵🇹 piromania

🇮🇳 आगजनी

🇩🇪 Pyromanie

🇮🇩 piromania

🇺🇦 піроманія

🇵🇱 piromania

🇯🇵 放火癖

🇫🇷 pyromanie

🇪🇸 piromanía

🇹🇷 piromani

🇰🇷 방화증

🇸🇦 إضطراب الحريق

🇨🇿 pyromanie

🇸🇰 pyrománia

🇨🇳 纵火癖

🇸🇮 piromanija

🇮🇸 píromanía

🇰🇿 пиромания

🇬🇪 პირომანია

🇦🇿 piromanlıq

🇲🇽 piromanía

Etymology

The term 'pyromania' derives from the combination of the Greek word 'pyro' (πῦρ), meaning 'fire', and the suffix '-mania', from the Greek 'mania' (μανία), which means 'madness' or 'frenzy'. The word came into use in the late 19th century in psychiatric contexts to describe individuals who exhibited an obsessive compulsion to start fires. The concept was introduced in the medical literature to better understand the motivations behind such behaviors and to classify it within psychological disorders. Over time, pyromania has been studied extensively, and it has been recognized as a serious mental health issue that requires attention and treatment, distinguishing it from other criminal behaviors like arson, which may be motivated by financial gain or revenge. This differentiation is crucial for proper diagnosis and intervention.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,471, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.