Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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adj
Not having sexual relations despite wishing to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: lifestyle, seduction-community, sexuality
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: love-shy
noun
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An individual who is not sexually active despite having such a desire.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: volcel
noun
A misogynistic man, with the implication that his misogyny makes him undesirable to potential partners, thus limiting his romantic and/or sexual prospects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, derogatory, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
"Involuntary celibacy": the state of being not sexually active despite wishing to be.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, uncountable
Topics: lifestyle, seduction-community, sexuality
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: incelibacy, love-shyness, fuckstration, AFCdom, AFCness
Antonyms: none provided
History
Syllabic abbreviation 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.
Across languages
19 source translations are retained for this English entry.
