fornicate

verb

for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating

transitive verb

: to commit fornication with
fornicator noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Multiple charges have been filed against the couple, who remain in custody A Florida couple have been accused by police of fornicating in the back of a patrol car mere moments after they were charged with biking while intoxicated, PEOPLE confirms. Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 17 Sep. 2019 In one corner, a woman fornicated with a peasant, and in the other corner her sister did the same. Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2018 Think of the waters around Louisiana as a great big dating pool for fish, with the eastern and western groups spending the warm summer months gorging and fornicating together. Ben Raines, AL.com, 1 Nov. 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 29 Apr. 2017 But the pages that immediately follow paint a more lurid picture, giving the distinct impression that college kids are fornicating willy-nilly, like so many bunnies in a hutch. Jennifer Senior, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2017 Lonely on the Mountain—the Israelites are fornicating and worshipping a false idol.) Michael Sebastian, Esquire, 15 May 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 2 May 2017 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin fornicatus, past participle of fornicare to have intercourse with prostitutes, from Latin fornic-, fornix arch, vault, brothel

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of fornicate was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near fornicate

Cite this Entry

“Fornicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornicate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

fornicate

verb
for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating
: to commit fornication
fornicator noun

Medical Definition

fornicate

verb
for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating

transitive verb

: to commit fornication with
fornicator noun
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