Phallic is an adjective used to describe something that resembleslooks like or has a similar appearance to a penis or is connected with a penis as a symbolan object, image, or thing standing for a deeper idea of sexual power, fertilityability to produce offspring or new life, or generation. It is often used in art, psychology, religion, and literary description.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈfælɪk/
Easy pronunciation: FAL-ik (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Adjective meaning resembling or being a phallus.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Phallic Meaning
looking like a penis or phallus
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: resembling or being a phallus
Example: The sculpture had a clearly phallic shape.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- priapic — Used for something that is like a phallus in shape or sexual symbolism.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Phallic
Meaning 2
connected with the phallus as a symbol of fertility or creative power
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: relating to a phallus especially as an embodiment of generative power
Example: The museum display included references to phallic worship in ancient cultures.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Phallic Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- priapic
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use phallic only to mean 'obscene,' but the word specifically refers to shape or symbolic sexual meaning.
- Do not confuse phallic with priapic as a general style word; priapic is much less common and more specialized.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does phallic mean?
Phallic means resembling a phallus or relating to it as a symbol of sexual or generative power.
What is a phallic symbol?
A phallic symbol is an object or image that suggests a phallus, often as a sign of fertility, power, or masculinity.
What are synonyms for phallic?
The main dictionary synonym is priapic, though it is more formal and less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.