Pedophile vs. Pervert — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 10, 2023
A pedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children. A pervert is a person who engages in abnormal or unacceptable sexual behavior, broadly.
Difference Between Pedophile and Pervert
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A pedophile specifically refers to an adult with a sexual preference for prepubescent children. A pervert, in a general sense, refers to someone who has sexual desires considered abnormal or deviant.
Pedophilia is classified as a psychiatric disorder, where the focus is on children under the age of puberty. Perverted behavior can include a wide range of sexual activities that deviate from societal norms, not necessarily involving children.
The term pedophile does not automatically imply sexual activity but refers to sexual attraction. A pervert may or may not participate in unlawful sexual activities, but their desires or behaviors are deemed inappropriate.
Pedophilia is a specific and clinically recognized condition with criteria defined by mental health professionals. Perverted behavior is a broader, less clinically precise term, often used subjectively to describe various sexual behaviors.
Dealing with pedophilia involves psychological treatment and legal considerations, especially when it leads to abuse. The concept of a pervert is more socially and culturally defined and can vary greatly in its application and interpretation.
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Comparison Chart
Specific Definition
Adult with sexual preference for children
Person with abnormal or unacceptable desires
Focus of Attraction or Behavior
Prepubescent children
Broad range of sexual activities
Clinical Classification
Psychiatric disorder
Broad, not a specific clinical diagnosis
Legal Implications
Serious, especially if it leads to abuse
Varies, depending on the behavior
Social Perception
Universally condemned
Subject to cultural and societal norms
Compare with Definitions
Pedophile
A person with pedophilia.
Pervert
A person whose sexual behaviour is regarded as abnormal and unacceptable.
Pedophile
A person aged 16 years old or older who is mostly or only sexually attracted toward prepubescent children.
Pervert
Distort or corrupt the original course, meaning, or state of (something)
He was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice
Pedophile
An adult who is sexually attracted to or engages in sexual acts with a child.
Pervert
Lead (someone) away from what is considered natural or acceptable
Hector is a man who is simply perverted by his time
Pedophile
A person who has pedophilia.
Pervert
To cause to turn away from what is right, proper, or good; debase
"yet another example of justice being perverted in an attempt to secure more convictions" (Economist).
Pedophile
An adult who is sexually attracted to children
Pervert
To corrupt (someone) morally.
Pervert
To interpret incorrectly; misconstrue or distort
An analysis that perverts the meaning of the poem.
Pervert
A person whose sexual practices or interests are considered abnormal or deviant.
Pervert
(dated) One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error; one who has turned to a twisted sense of values or morals.
Pervert
A person whose sexual habits are not considered acceptable.
Those perverts were trying to spy on us while we changed clothes!
Pervert
(transitive) To turn another way; to divert.
Pervert
(transitive) To corrupt; to cause to be untrue; corrupted or otherwise impure
How could stopping someone from killing himself or herself "pervert the course of justice"?
Pervert
To misapply, misuse, use for a nefarious purpose
He has perverted his talents to dishonest gain.
Pervert
To misinterpret designedly.
Pervert one's words
Pervert
(intransitive) To become perverted; to take the wrong course.
Pervert
To turnanother way; to divert.
Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.
Pervert
To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt; also, to misapply; to misinterpret designedly; as, to pervert one's words.
He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.
Pervert
To become perverted; to take the wrong course.
Pervert
One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error, especially in religion; - opposed to convert. See the Synonym of Convert.
That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre.
Pervert
A person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior
Pervert
Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality;
Debauch the young people with wine and women
Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
Do school counselors subvert young children?
Corrupt the morals
Pervert
Practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
Pervert
Change the inherent purpose or function of something;
Don't abuse the system
The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
