incel

Etymology

Blend of involuntary + celibate. Coined by "Alana" in 1997 on an online forum (originally as invcel). Came to widespread usage in the mid-2010s, chiefly online.

noun

1. A member of an online subculture of people (mostly men) who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.
   Though, involuntary celibates (or incels) shouldn't try to rationalize a dateless season or pass off sexual awkwardness as virtue; […] 2004, Phineas Mollod, Jason Tesauro, The Modern Lover: A Playbook for Suitors, Spouses & Ringless Carousers, Ten Speed Press, published 2004, page 90
   It is not clear when the term incels was coined, but the link between misogyny and violence against women has emerged on sites where incel communities gather. 2017-11-09, Christine Hauser, “Reddit Bans ‘Incel’ Group for Inciting Violence Against Women”, in The New York Times
   The incel ideology has already inspired the murders of at least sixteen people. Elliot Rodger, in 2014, in Isla Vista, California, killed six and injured fourteen in an attempt to instigate a “War on Women” for “depriving me of sex.” 2018-05-15, Jia Tolentino, “The Rage of the Incels”, in The New Yorker
   2018, Alex Hern, Who are the 'incels' and how do they relate to Toronto van attack?, The Guardian:
2. (rare) Anyone who is not sexually active despite desiring to be.
   Another study by Donnelly of seventy-seven incels in marriages or long-term relationships in the Journal of Marriage and Family used a web-based questionnaire to ask people why they stayed in their sexless relationships (defined in this case as no sex for six months). 2009, Luisa Dillner, Love by Numbers: The Hidden Facts Behind Everyone's Relationships, Profile Books, published 2009, page 153
3. (uncountable, seduction community, informal) "Involuntary celibacy": the state of not being sexually active despite wishing to be.

adj

1. (seduction community) Not having sexual relations despite wishing to.
   People who are 'incel' are often suspected as being gay. It's annoying. May 30, 2001, Gra - gra, “I love you!”, in alt.support.shyness (Usenet)