fornicate

1 of 2

verb

for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt 

fornicated; fornicating; fornicates

intransitive verb

: to engage in consensual sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married : to commit fornication

fornicator

ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkā-tər 

noun

fornicator

2 of 2

noun

for·​ni·​ca·​tor ˈfȯ(r)nəˌkātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: a person guilty of fornication

—sometimes used to distinguish the male participant in such conduct; compare fornicatrix

Examples of fornicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Jelly doubled down on the jokes about fornicating with Kit Wilson’s mom before Kit attacked Jelly and laid him out with a corkscrew elbow. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Mar. 2026

These are unhappy hedonists, boozing and fornicating for lack of fulfillment. —Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026

Tenants like Thomas have sent Gorman and Company scores of photos and videos showing people in the hallways fornicating, using drugs, sleeping and fighting, among other unsavory activities. —Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 31 Oct. 2025

When female artists came calling, his staff would vacate, and according to office lore, the Gar Man would fornicate with a lucky few. —Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025

Age-old paintings of satyrs bedding nymphs and mythological figures fornicating have been newly unearthed at a small house at Pompeii. —Alex Greenberger For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024

Age-old paintings of satyrs bedding nymphs and mythological figures fornicating have been newly unearthed at a small house at Pompeii. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Late Latin fornicātus, past participle of fornicāre "to consort with women who provide sex for money," derivative of Latin fornic-, fornix "arch, vault, vaulted chamber used as a brothel" — more at fornix

Noun

Middle English fornicatour, from Late Latin fornicator, from fornicatus (past participle) + Latin -or

First Known Use

Verb

1552, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fornicate

verb

for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt 

fornicated; fornicating

: to commit fornication

fornicator

-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

fornicate

verb

for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt 

fornicated; fornicating

intransitive verb

: to commit fornication : to engage in consensual sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married

fornicator

-ˌkāt-ər 

noun