Definition of DEBAUCHERY

History and Use of Debauchery

Some people come to find debauchery through the Bible, in a manner of speaking.

In a number of modern versions the word may be found in Ephesians 5:18, as in The New International Version's translation: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit....” The Greek word that is translated here as debauchery may be interpreted in many different ways: the King James Version uses excess, whereas the American Standard Version uses riot.

Debauchery always involves behavior—especially sexual behavior or behavior involving alcohol or drugs—that some find morally objectionable. In biblical and spiritual contexts, the word debauchery is deadly serious, but in other situations the word often has a playful connotation, as when a group of friends goes out for a "night of debauchery."

Debauchery began to be used in English in the beginning of the 17th century, and is formed from the earlier word debauch. As a verb debauch initially had the meaning of "to lead astray," especially when referring to leading someone away from another person to whom he or she has an allegiance or duty. In its earliest use as a noun debauch was often used to refer to an instance of eating or drinking too much.

Examples of debauchery in a Sentence

Like St. Augustine carousing his student days away in fourth-century Carthage, [Thomas] Merton had succumbed to such physical and intellectual debaucheries as New York offered a Columbia undergraduate in the 1930's: wine, women and some Communist fellow-traveling. — Mark Silk, New York Times Book Review, 30 Mar. 1986 … they regard all music and everything pleasant as forms of debauchery, and will not confess to any knowledge or practice unless you can convince them that you are as abandoned a profligate as themselves. — Bernard Shaw, letter, 25 Nov. 1948 I have seen a dozen boys stretched on the grass within a circumference of fifty feet, all of them smoking cigarettes and reading dime novels. It was a scene of inspiring debauchery, even to the most craven spectator. — H. L. Mencken, Happy Days, 1940 He later regretted the debauchery of his youth. He recalled the evening's debaucheries with regret.

Recent Examples on the Web

The cold humor, which is lechery, which is seething debauchery, which is abomination itself. — Amos Oz, Harper's magazine, "Setting the World to Rights," 10 Apr. 2019 The result: an inky, lived-in black liner look that only hints at the debauchery from the night before. — Karina Hoshikawa, Allure, "Exclusive: Thomas de Kluyver Talks Relaunch of Gucci Beauty, New Role as Global Makeup Artist," 5 May 2019 What transpires is a night of adolescent debauchery straight out of Superbad. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Olivia Wilde’s New Movie Looks Like the Female Superbad—and People Are Thrilled," 11 Mar. 2019 Before Victoria's ascent to the throne, her family house, the Hanoverians, were not popular with the masses; generations of out of control spending and debauchery had earned the royal family a less than glowing reputation. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "How Did Queen Victoria's Husband Prince Albert Die?," 4 Mar. 2019 As part of their case, prosecutors are said to be using a 1910 law known as the Mann Act, which was intended to combat debauchery and prostitution. — Richard Winton, latimes.com, "Federal prosecutors conduct sex crimes investigation into Harvey Weinstein," 23 May 2018 Nick, on the other hand, is currently in the midst of his bachelor party weekend, so the full extent of his debauchery (or lack thereof) remains to be seen. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Nick Jonas' Bachelor Party and Priyanka Chopra's Bachelorette Party, Compared," 11 Nov. 2018 Despite its reputation for debauchery, Burning Man does make an effort to accommodate nonadults. — Ella Riley-adams, Vogue, "My Parents Took Me to Burning Man as a Teenager," 23 Aug. 2018 Prohibition was protection against domestic abuse, a promise that sons would not slide into debauchery and the family income would not be wasted at the saloon. — Elizabeth Winkler, WSJ, "‘Liberated Spirits’ Review: When Alcohol Was a Women’s Issue," 25 Oct. 2018

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