celibacy

noun

cel·​i·​ba·​cy ˈse-lə-bə-sē 

1

: the state of not being married

2

a

: abstention from sexual intercourse

b

: abstention by vow from marriage

priestly celibacy

Synonyms of celibacy

• purity
• chastity
• abstinence

Examples of celibacy in a Sentence

a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife

Recent Examples on the Web

As the world outside begins to resemble the full-moon mating frenzy of the opalescent squid, crack open Sylvia Townsend Warner’s 1948 novel about nuns eking out an existence in a 14th-century convent and one night of celibacy might not seem so bad. —Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026

Nearly three centuries later, the Shaker founder could become an unlikely icon for Gen Z, who are bringing celibacy back in staggeringly high numbers, according to a slew of recent studies. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026

Their number grew while the utopian community lived in New Harmony thanks to a celibacy edict put in place by their founder George Rapp in 1807. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 30 Dec. 2025

Foundational Shaker beliefs, such as celibacy and gender equality, were incompatible with the outside world, so Lee’s followers built their own. —Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

celibate "state of not being married" (borrowed from Latin caelibātus, from caelebs "not having a spouse, unmarried" + -ātus -ate entry 2) + -acy — more at celibate entry 1

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

celibacy

noun

cel·​i·​ba·​cy ˈsel-ə-bə-sē 

: the state of not being married

especially : the state of one who has taken a vow not to marry