external condom

English

Etymology

Retronym for condom, coined after the introduction of the internal condom/female condom to distinguish the type of barrier contraceptive worn over an erect penis from the type worn internally in the vagina or anus.

Noun

external condom (plural external condoms)

  2. A condom worn over an erect penis, in contradistinction to one worn internally in the anus or vagina.
    Synonyms: male condom (sometimes deprecated); condom (narrow sense)
    Hypernyms: condom (broad sense) < contraceptive < device
    Coordinate terms: internal condom, female condom (sometimes deprecated), femidom; diaphragm; IUD, intrauterine device

Usage notes

  • The term external condom is sometimes preferred over male condom, as it does not make the implicit assumptions about the user's gender that male condom does (given that this type of device is also commonly used by e.g. trans women).
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