licentious

1 of 2

adjective

li·​cen·​tious lī-ˈsen(t)-shəs 

1

: lacking legal or moral restraints

especially : disregarding sexual restraints

licentious behavior

licentious revelers

2

: marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness

licentiously adverb

licentiousness noun

licentiousness

2 of 2

noun

li·​cen·​tious·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being licentious

the utmost licentiousness of the press and of the stage

—T. B. Macaulay

Did you know?

The Shared Roots of License and Licentious

License and licentious come ultimately from the same word in Latin, licentia, whose meanings ranged from "freedom to act" to "unruly behavior, wantonness." The Latin noun was itself derived from the verb licere "to be permitted." Though we are likely to associate license with the card that grants freedom or permission to operate a motor vehicle and licentious with sexual wantonness, in actuality, there is considerable semantic overlap between the two words. Poetic license refers to deviation from a (usually) literary norm for some purposeful effect. A person who takes license with something (or someone) engages in "abusive disregard for rules of personal conduct." Hence, the semantic range of license in English mirrors that of its Latin antecedent, suggesting either permission or transgression, depending upon the context. Licentious, on the other hand, always implies excessive, transgressive freedom, as is true of its immediate Latin source, licentiosus "unrestrained, wanton" (literally, "full of freedom").

Synonyms of licentious

Adjective

• passionate
• hot
• lascivious
• lustful

Examples of licentious in a Sentence

Adjective

a moralist who decried what she regarded as the licentious and corrupt culture of the entertainment industry

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While Black writers and artists looked to Harlem as a source of optimism and inspiration, whites saw Harlem and other centers of urban Black life as alluring quarters for their more licentious desires. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

She’s preoccupied though, training a gun on the facility’s head officer, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), whose RFK Jr. rasp and licentious focus on Perfidia sets him up as a comedic draw and a convincing picture of America’s sanctioned white violence. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025

His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025

The mansion has been renovated before, and previous mayor Dave Bing, when newly elected, was transparent about the amount used on upgrades, ending the shroud of licentious rumors regarding the mansion since 2010. —Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 22 May 2025

Woodhull’s inability to counter the caricature of her as evil and licentious doomed her campaign. —Allison Lange / Made By History, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024

Ahmed is referring to the era in Tangier's history, beginning in the interwar period and peaking in the 1950s, when the city served as a licentious playground for a motley assortment of artists, socialites, and hedonists. —Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin licentiosus, from licentia

First Known Use

Adjective

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

licentious

adjective

li·​cen·​tious lī-ˈsen-chəs 

: marked by immoral or lawless behavior

licentiously adverb

licentiousness noun

Legal Definition

licentious

adjective

li·​cen·​tious lī-ˈsen-chəs 

: disregarding legal restraints especially with regard to sexual relations

arrested as a prostitute for licentious sexual intercourse

licentiously adverb

licentiousness noun