courtesan

noun

cour·​te·​san ˈkȯr-tə-zən 

-ˌzan,

 also  ˈkər-,

-ˌzän;

 especially British  ˌkȯ-tə-ˈzan

plural courtesans

: a female sex worker with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele

Synonyms

• prostitute
• hooker [informal + disapproving]

Examples of courtesan in a Sentence

the protagonist of the novel is a composite of several real-life courtesans who plied their trade among the decadent aristocracy

Recent Examples on the Web

Later, Cellini is invited to a dinner and shows up with a young man dressed as a woman; the courtesan, his lover at the time, is also at the dinner, which leads to an enormously violent scene. —Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025

Discovered in 1929 by the German astronomer Karl Reinmuth, it is named after the Spanish courtesan and dancer Carolina Otero. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Aug. 2025

At the center of the plot are Christian, an aspiring composer with new bohemian friends, and Satine, a classy courtesan who has risen to cabaret stardom at the Moulin Rouge, which itself is in financial trouble under its impresario, Zidler. Complications ensue. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025

Ukiyo-e artists might paint unique portraits of famous courtesans or charming everyday tableaux on silk, to be mounted on scrolls for richer clients, and there are plenty of such stunners on display. —Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French courtisane, from northern Italian dialect form of Italian cortigiana woman courtier, feminine of cortigiano courtier, from corte court, from Latin cohort-, cohors — see court entry 1

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above