philander
/fɪˈlandə
/verb [no object]
(Of a man) readily or frequently enter into casual sexual relationships with women: they accepted that their husbands would philander with other women...
- There is, however, one class of married man that should be free to mislead and philander as they wish: guys who were strong-armed into buying expensive engagement rings for their wives.
- The naïf in this case is gorgeous Leslie, whose fiancé Logan philanders with Agnes while expecting Leslie to be faithful.
- Hubert philanders openly with Sonia, while Henri and Ines are in the bedroom trying to shut the child up.
Synonyms
womanize, have affairs/an affair, flirt, trifle/toy/dally with someone's affections
informal play around, carry on, play the field, sleep around
North American informal fool around
vulgar slang screw around
rare be a carpet knight, coquet
Origin
Mid 18th century: from the earlier noun philander 'man, husband', often used in literature as the given name of a lover, from Greek philandros 'fond of men', from philein 'to love' + anēr 'man'.