fornication
noun
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What’s the difference between adultery and fornication?
In case you were wondering, the words adultery and adult are not etymologically related (in other words, adultery didn’t grow out of adult in the way that punditry grew out of pundit). Although both words come from Latin and share the same first five letters, adultery is from adulterāre (“to pollute, defile, commit adultery”), a word formed ultimately from the Latin elements ad- “to, near” and alter “other.” English adult comes from adultus, which is the past participle of the Latin word adolescere (“to grow up”).
In legal use there is a difference between adultery and fornication. Adultery is only used when at least one of the parties involved (either male or female) is married, whereas fornication may be used to describe two people who are unmarried (to each other or anyone else) engaging in consensual sexual intercourse.
Examples of fornication in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fornication.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English fornicacioun "unsanctioned sexual intercourse, sexual relations between two unmarried persons," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French fornicaciun, borrowed from Late Latin fornicātiōn-, fornicātiō "illicit sexual intercourse," from fornicāre "to consort with women who provide sex for money" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fornicate
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fornication
Cite this Entry
“Fornication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornication. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
fornication
nounMedical Definition
fornication
nounLegal Definition
fornication
nounNote: Where still considered a crime, fornication is classified as a misdemeanor.
Late Latin fornicatio, from fornicare to have intercourse with prostitutes, from Latin fornic-, fornix arch, vault, brothel
More from Merriam-Webster on fornication
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fornication
Nglish: Translation of fornication for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fornication for Arabic Speakers
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