English Explanatory Dictionary

incel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A member of an online subculture of people (mostly men) who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.
  2. An individual who is not sexually active despite having such a desire.
  3. A misogynistic man, with the implication that his misogyny makes him undesirable to potential partners, thus limiting his romantic and/or sexual prospects.
  4. "Involuntary celibacy": the state of being not sexually active despite wishing to be.
adj
  1. Not having sexual relations despite wishing to.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪnˌsɛl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-incel.wav

Word forms

incel incels

Etymology

Blend of involuntary + celibate. Coined by "Alana" in 1997 on an online forum (originally as invcel). Came to widespread usage in the mid-2010s, chiefly online, but now more widespread.

Synonyms

AFC blue-baller incel incelibate involuntary celibate love-shy permavirgin incelibacy love-shyness fuckstration AFCdom AFCness

Antonyms

volcel

Related words

MGTOW nice guy syndrome orbiter

Derived words

-cel Glincel incelcore inceldom incelism incellike incelosphere nigcel
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