chastity

noun

chas·​ti·​ty ˈcha-stə-tē How to pronounce chastity (audio)
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

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 The anti-erotic Christianity that Monica professed condemned the vanity of human learning and encouraged chastity. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024 Origin: Irish Meaning: From the lake Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lin, Lynne Artemis An unforgettable baby name, Artemis is derived from the Greek goddess of the moon, hunting, and chastity. Taylor Grothe, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024 Monasteries of childless women as well as of childless men followed this rule, pledging themselves to chastity as well as poverty and obedience. Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 30 July 2024 Previously, celibacy was often intertwined with religious ideas of purity and chastity, but for women today the concept is much wider and the reasons behind it more varied. Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 28 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for chastity 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chastity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chastete, chastite, borrowed from Anglo-French casthetet, chasteté, borrowed from Latin castitāt-, castitās, from castus "free from, free from vice, chaste" + -itāt-, -itās

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chastity was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near chastity

Cite this Entry

“Chastity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chastity. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

chastity

noun
chas·​ti·​ty ˈchas-tət-ē How to pronounce chastity (audio)
: the quality or state of being chaste

More from Merriam-Webster on chastity

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