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sadist vs. masochist

sadist vs. masochist: What's the difference?

Sadist and masochist both describe persons with specific psychological conditions. A sadist is someone who derives pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, from inflicting pain or degradation on someone else. A masochist is someone who derives pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, from experiencing pain or humiliation.

sadist

[ sey-dist, sad-ist ]
noun
  1. a person who has the condition of sadism, in which one receives sexual gratification from causing pain and degradation to another.
  2. a person who enjoys being cruel.

masochist

[ mas-uh-kist ]
noun
  1. a person who has masochism, the condition in which sexual or other gratification depends on one's suffering physical pain or humiliation.
  2. a person who is gratified by pain, degradation, etc., that is self-imposed or imposed by others.
  3. a person who finds pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.