prostitution
noun
pros·ti·tu·tion
ˌprä-stə-ˈtü-shən 
-ˈtyü-
1
sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below
: the act or practice of engaging in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : sex work
2
: the state of being involved in or devoted to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debasement
You see, for Michelangelo, painting was only a day job—one he felt was a prostitution of his artistic talent. His passion was sculpture.—
Karen Wall Garrison
Karen Wall Garrison
Usage of Prostitute
The terms sex worker and sex work are now preferred to prostitute and prostitution, which are increasingly rejected as offensive. Additionally, prostitute and prostitution are avoided in contexts relating to victimization especially of children because the words there are seen as an egregious mischaracterization of exploitation.
Synonyms of prostitution
Examples of prostitution in a Sentence
She was arrested for prostitution.
Writing commercials was a prostitution of his talents.
Recent Examples on the Web
With the casinos and online gambling came organized crime, money laundering, prostitution, drug trafficking and online scamming.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The 2008 nonprosecution agreement allowed Epstein to plead guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution while avoiding being charged with more serious federal crimes.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The Bad Boy Records founder was sentenced to four years in prison at the beginning of October after he was found guilty in July of two felony counts of transportation to engage in prostitution at the end of a two-month trial.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Floyd was also convicted of pimping a minor older than 16 years old, two counts of taking the girl’s money from prostitution and two counts of pandering by encouraging the prostitution.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
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Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The 2008 nonprosecution agreement allowed Epstein to plead guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution while avoiding being charged with more serious federal crimes.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The Bad Boy Records founder was sentenced to four years in prison at the beginning of October after he was found guilty in July of two felony counts of transportation to engage in prostitution at the end of a two-month trial.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Floyd was also convicted of pimping a minor older than 16 years old, two counts of taking the girl’s money from prostitution and two counts of pandering by encouraging the prostitution.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
Cite this Entry
“Prostitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostitution. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prostitution
noun
pros·ti·tu·tion
ˌpräs-tə-ˈt(y)ü-shən
1
: the acts or practices of a prostitute
2
: the state of being prostituted
Legal Definition
prostitution
noun
pros·ti·tu·tion
ˌpräs-tə-ˈtü-shən, -ˈtyü-
: the act or practice of engaging in sexual activity indiscriminately especially for money
also
: the crime of engaging in such activity
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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