missionary position

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: - A specific position for sexual intercourse in which a man and a woman lie facing each other, with the man positioned on top of the woman. The term's origin is attributed to the belief that Christian missionaries advocated this as the proper or acceptable position for sexual relations among the peoples they evangelized.

Usage
  • The term is used specifically to describe this conventional sexual position.
  • It is often used in clinical, anthropological, humorous, or informal contexts.
Examples
Advanced Usage & Context
  • The term is frequently placed in historical or sociological context, referencing the influence of Western missionaries on indigenous cultures and sexual practices.
  • In modern usage, it can sometimes carry connotations of conventionality, tradition, or lack of sexual adventurousness, depending on the tone of the conversation.
Variants and Related Words
  • Missionary (noun/adjective): A person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in a foreign country. This is the root word from which the phrase "missionary position" is derived.
  • Coital position (noun phrase): A more general, clinical term for any position during sexual intercourse.
Synonyms
  • Man-on-top position: A direct, descriptive synonym.
  • Male-superior position: A more formal or clinical synonym.
Notes on Meaning
  • The term refers exclusively to the described sexual position. It is a fixed noun phrase; the word "missionary" alone does not convey this meaning.
  • Its usage is often marked, as it combines a term associated with religion ("missionary") with a sexual context, creating a specific cultural reference.
Noun
  1. a position for sexual intercourse; a man and woman lie facing each other with the man on top; so-called because missionaries thought it the proper position for primitive peoples