penis envy   n.  The supposed wish of a girl or woman to have a penis, postulated by Sigmund Freud as a cause of feelings of inferiority and psychic conflict.

penis envy

In Freudian theory, the repressed desire of females to possess a penis.

Note: Penis envy is also used generally to mean a supposed female envy of men.

Main Entry: penis en·vy
Pronunciation: -"en-vE
Function: noun
: the supposed coveting of the penis by a young human female which is held inpsychoanalytic theory to lead to feelings of inferiority and defensive or compensatory behavior