chastity

chas·ti·ty | \ ˈcha-stə-tē

How to pronounce chastity (audio)

\

Definition of chastity

1 : the quality or state of being chaste: such as

a : abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse

b : abstention from all sexual intercourse The priest took a vow of chastity.

c : purity in conduct and intention sought to protect her threatened chastity

d : restraint and simplicity in design or expression … describes the familiar campaigns with an admirable chastity of diction.— Richard Brookhiser

2 : personal integrity

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about chastity

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of chastity in a Sentence

a saint who is often held up as a model of chastity vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

Recent Examples on the Web Too Hot to Handle is basically a version of Love Island with an element of chastity. — Ariana Brockington, refinery29.com, "The Too Hot To Handle Cast Is Just As Extra On Instagram," 20 Apr. 2020 Take, for example, gender gaps in the importance men and women place on a partner's financial resources, attractiveness and chastity. — Cordelia Fine, Scientific American, "Promiscuous Men, Chaste Women and Other Gender Myths," 1 Sep. 2017 The seduction of young women in such places would result in a fall from chastity to sin, followed by a life of spinsterhood or, worse, prostitution. — Clement Knox, Time, "When U.S. Laws Punished Men for 'Seduction,' Women Were the Ones Who Got Judged," 4 Feb. 2020 An Important Historical Document’ on Dating The 1940s was not exactly a time of extreme chastity. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, "‘Baby, It's Cold Outside' Was Controversial From the Beginning. Here’s What to Know About Consent in the 1940s," 5 Dec. 2019 The nonprofit arm works for Upper Midwest Catholic schools to support educational technology and chastity and abstinence education. — J.d. Duggan, Twin Cities, "From pioneer roots to modern day, Catholic United sees steady growth," 1 Dec. 2019 This represents the attitude of many centuries in which rape was considered a property crime against a husband or father, robbing them of a woman’s virginity or chastity, which were the father’s to give away to a spouse. — The Economist, "Johnson How to talk about unspeakable things," 14 Nov. 2019 These accessories, also a sign of chastity, adorn Elizabeth’s dress and dangle from her neck. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Three Portraits of Victorious Queen Elizabeth I to Be Displayed Together for the First Time," 15 Nov. 2019 Missionaries with the Culture Project travel across the country, speaking to Catholic school, youth and young adult groups about the ideals of chastity, modesty and pure love. — Sam Boyer, cleveland, "All good things, like this, must come to an end: Whit & Whimsey," 18 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chastity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about chastity

Dictionary Entries near chastity

Statistics for chastity

Last Updated

27 Apr 2020

Cite this Entry

“Chastity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chastity. Accessed 7 Jun. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

advocate

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

May 2020 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of exiguous?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.