Pedophilia

===Misuse of medical terminology===
The words ''pedophile'' and ''pedophilia'' are commonly used informally to describe an adult's sexual interest in pubescent or post-pubescent persons under the age of consent. The terms ''[[hebephilia]]'' or ''[[ephebophilia]]'' may be more accurate in these cases.<ref name=mayoclinic/><ref name="www.usccb.org"/><ref name=britannica>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Pedophilia | url = https://www.britannica.com/topic/pedophilia | encyclopedia = [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] | access-date = July 19, 2015 | archive-date = February 25, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210225153604/https://www.britannica.com/topic/pedophilia | url-status = live}}</ref>

Another common usage of ''pedophilia'' is to refer to the act of sexual abuse itself,{{r|seto|p=vii}} rather than the medical meaning, which is a ''preference'' for prepubescents on the part of the older individual ([[#Pedophilia and child molestation|see above]] for an explanation of the distinction).<ref name="ames"/><ref name=lanning/> There are also situations where the terms are misused to refer to relationships where the younger person is an adult of legal age, but is either considered too young in comparison to their older partner, or the older partner occupies a position of authority over them.<ref name="www.huffingtonpost.com">{{Cite news | last = Guzzardi | first = Will | title = Andy Martin, GOP Senate Candidate, Calls Opponent Mark Kirk A "De Facto Pedophile" | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/andy-martin-gop-senate-ca_n_413624.html | date = 2010-01-06 | access-date = 15 January 2010 | work = Huffington Post | archive-date = 2012-11-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121111144813/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/andy-martin-gop-senate-ca_n_413624.html | url-status = live}}</ref> Researchers state that the above uses of the term ''pedophilia'' are imprecise or suggest that they are best avoided.<ref name="ames"/><ref name="www.usccb.org"/> Writing in [[Mayo Clinic Proceedings]], Hall & Hall state that ''pedophilia'' "is not a criminal or legal term".<ref name=mayoclinic/>