Gynephilia is a term used in psychology, sexology, and human sexuality to describe a sexual orientation characterized by a primary or exclusive attraction to women or femininity. It can refer to attraction to people who identify as women or who express feminine qualities and characteristics, regardless of the gender identity of the person experiencing the attraction. Gynephilia contrasts with androphilia, which refers to attraction to men or masculinity. This term encompasses different manifestations, including heterosexual gynephilia (men attracted to women), homosexual gynephilia (women attracted to women), and bisexual or pansexual gynephilia, where attraction to women is a significant component. Gynephilia describes a stable pattern of sexual and romantic attraction toward female gender or femininity and is often used to categorize sexual orientations without implying specific identity or social affiliation. It recognizes the diversity in attraction along a continuum and is often discussed in an academic context as part of the broader understanding of human sexual orientation.
The term is related but distinct from "gynosexuality," which emphasizes attraction to femininity without specifying gender, while gynephilia usually refers specifically to attraction toward women.