How is the term "prurient" defined?

The term "prurient" is defined as having a strong interest in or arousing sexual desire. This definition originates from its usage in legal contexts, particularly in discussions about obscenity and pornography, where prurient interests are those that are focused excessively on sexual content or imagery. When something is described as prurient, it implies a focus that is often considered inappropriate or excessive in terms of sexual content.

Understanding the term is important in fields like media, literature, and law, where distinguishing between acceptable artistic expression and content that is deemed prurient can have significant implications. In contrast, the other definitions are aligned with entirely different and unrelated concepts, such as innocence, humor, or scholarly pursuits, which do not capture the essence of the term "prurient."