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

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

• vice
• harlotry

Examples of prostitution in a Sentence

She was arrested for prostitution.

Writing commercials was a prostitution of his talents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly 1,200 tips have come in over the years, and about 200 women with arrest records for drugs and prostitution have been interviewed as part of the case, per CBS News. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025

Gates said that his relationship with Epstein came to an end following a series of meetings in 2011—three years after Epstein's conviction for procuring a child for prostitution. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

All of those gifts were received prior to Epstein’s guilty plea in Florida in 2008 to charges of solicitation of prostitution with a minor, according to the university’s review of its Epstein connections. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2025

That time frame was a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to solicitation of prostitution from an underage girl. —Dan Mangan,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prostitution

• anti-prostitution

Rhymes for prostitution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution

Kids 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