prostitute

verb pros·ti·tute \ ˈpräs-tə-ˌtüt , -ˌtyüt \

Definition of prostitute

prostituted; prostituting

transitive verb

1 :to offer indiscriminately for sexual intercourse especially for money

2 :to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes :debase

prostitute one's talents

—

prostitutor

play \-ˌtü-tər, -ˌtyü-\ noun

See prostitute defined for English-language learners

See prostitute defined for kids

Examples of prostitute in a Sentence

a writer who prostituted his talents by writing commercials
a serious writer prostituting himself by writing pulp novels for money

Recent Examples of prostitute from the Web

Usually such efforts lead to sagas of unrelenting grimness: mothers who prostitute daughters, and men who forcibly inject runaways with drugs to hook them, a practice known as guerrilla pimping.

— author: jan hoffman, Alaska Dispatch News, "Hunting a killer in Oklahoma: Sex, drugs and the return of syphilis," 25 Aug. 2017
Prosecutors said that Hood was involved in prostituting four other people on Backpage.

— rachel weiner, Washington Post, "Teen testifies about being prostituted on Backpage.com," 9 Aug. 2017
A man who pleaded guilty to forcing women to prostitute themselves on Backpage.com was sentenced to federal prison yesterday.

— ivana hrynkiw, AL.com, "Tennessee man sentenced to prison for forcing women to prostitute themselves on Backpage.com," 28 June 2017
The ringleader, Kenneth Chatman, admitting giving his clients drugs, prostituting women, defrauding insurers, and was sentenced to 27.5 years in prison. --

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "New state law bans sober homes from falsely advertising services and locations," 27 June 2017
A Boynton Beach man is facing the possibility of life in prison for allegedly prostituting a 16-year-old girl, federal authorities said Thursday.

— tonya alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Boynton Beach man accused of prostituting 16-year-old girl," 15 June 2017
A Bridgeport man who prostituted and beat a 15-year-old girl pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of sex trafficking of a minor.

— rebecca lurye, courant.com, "Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking, Transported Minor As Far As D.C.," 12 May 2017
From the age of eight, Moochie was brutally tortured and grotesquely enslaved, raped, and prostituted by a sadistic stepfather.

— nell scovell, Vanities, "How Michelle Stevens Survived Horrific Childhood Abuse to Write Her Story," 22 Mar. 2017
From the age of eight, Moochie was brutally tortured and grotesquely enslaved, raped, and prostituted by a sadistic stepfather.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "How Michelle Stevens Survived Horrific Childhood Abuse to Write Her Story," 22 Mar. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of prostitute

Latin prostitutus, past participle of prostituere, from pro- before + statuere to station — more at pro-, statute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

prostitute Synonyms

Synonyms

abase, bastardize, canker, cheapen, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, debase, subvert, vitiate, warp

Antonyms

elevate, ennoble, uplift

Related Words

befoul, begrime, contaminate, defile, dilute, dirty, pollute, taint, thin, water down, weaken; descend; disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, take down; blemish, damage, deface, destroy, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, mar, ruin, spoil, stain, tarnish, wreck; depreciate, downgrade

Near Antonyms

dignify, exalt, honor; ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect; clarify, clean, cleanse, purify, refine, restore; respect

prostitute

adjective

Definition of prostitute

:devoted to corrupt purposes :prostituted

First Known Use of prostitute

1563

prostitute

noun

Definition of prostitute

1 a :a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse especially for money :whore

b :a male who engages in sexual and especially homosexual practices for money

2 :a person (such as a writer or painter) who deliberately debases his or her talents (as for money)

See prostitute defined for English-language learners

Examples of prostitute in a Sentence

the town was horrified to discover that she had once been a prostitute

Recent Examples of prostitute from the Web

Everybody played cards: kings and dukes, clerics, friars and noblewomen, prostitutes, sailors, prisoners.

— adrienne bernhard, The Atlantic, "The Lost Origins of Playing-Card Symbols," 24 Aug. 2017
As at any hotel, requests for drugs and prostitutes do happen—but not frequently.

— jaclyn gallucci, Fortune, "12 Shocking Things I Learned by Working as a Butler at the Plaza Hotel," 8 Aug. 2017
A first-time conviction for soliciting a prostitute is a misdemeanor crime.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "Caldwell prostitution sting leads to five arrests," 4 Aug. 2017
Just as chilling is the unremitting vengefulness of the prostitutes, led by Strawberry Alice (Frances Fisher), for their demand for blood justice seems far out of proportion to the attack, no matter how heinous.

— michael auslin, National Review, "The Last Great American Western Turns 25," 3 Aug. 2017
The story focused on a gender-fluid teen prostitute named Cherry Vanilla, who used the name Sarah.

— karen bliss, Billboard, "Shirley Manson of Garbage Broke Down on Stage Thinking About Donald Trump's Transgender Military Ban," 27 July 2017
In 1996, a conservative majority of the Supreme Court affirmed the seizure of a wife’s car when her husband used it while soliciting a prostitute.

— david french, National Review, "America’s Asset-Forfeiture Scam Is Law Enforcement’s Disgrace," 20 July 2017
Just before Hong Kong’s election in 2004, authorities charged an opposition politician with patronising prostitutes and sentenced him to six months detention.

— The Economist, "Painted blackCritics of oppressive governments often end up defamed," 13 July 2017
Prostitutes run around naked and screaming before a baby is unceremoniously killed.

— paul schrodt, GQ, "Every Game of Thrones Nude Scene, Ranked by Whether Anyone Really Needed to Be Naked," 11 July 2017

First Known Use of prostitute

1607

prostitute Synonyms

Synonyms

bawd, call girl, cocotte, courtesan, drab, harlot, hooker, hustler, sex worker, streetwalker, strumpet, tart, whore, woman of the street

Related Words

madam, madame; white slave; bimbo [slang], chippie (also chippy), doxy (also doxie), floozy (or floozie), tramp; bitch, hussy, jade, minx; coquette, flirt, libertine, siren, tempter, temptress, vamp, wench

PROSTITUTE Defined for English Language Learners

prostitute

verb

Definition of prostitute for English Language Learners

: to use (something valuable, such as talent) in a way that is not appropriate or respectable and especially to earn money

prostitute

noun

Definition of prostitute for English Language Learners

: a person who has sex with someone in exchange for money

Law Dictionary

prostitute

noun pros·ti·tute \ ˈpräs-tə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt \

legal Definition of prostitute

:a person who engages in sexual activity indiscriminately especially for money — compare panderer, pimp

prostitute

transitive verb

legal Definition of prostitute

prostituted; prostituting

:to offer as a prostitute

Origin and Etymology of prostitute

Latin prostitutus, past participle of prostituere, from pro- before + statuere to cause to stand, place

Learn More about prostitute

See words that rhyme with prostitute Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prostitute Spanish Central: Translation of prostitute Nglish: Translation of prostitute for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prostitute for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up prostitute? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

prostitute

Definition of prostitute

prostitutor

Explore M-W

Examples of prostitute in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prostitute from the Web

Origin and Etymology of prostitute

prostitute Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

prostitute

Definition of prostitute

First Known Use of prostitute

prostitute

Definition of prostitute

Examples of prostitute in a Sentence

Recent Examples of prostitute from the Web

First Known Use of prostitute

prostitute Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to PROSTITUTE

Related Phrases

PROSTITUTE Defined for English Language Learners

prostitute

Definition of prostitute for English Language Learners

prostitute

Definition of prostitute for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

prostitute

legal Definition of prostitute

prostitute

legal Definition of prostitute

Origin and Etymology of prostitute

Learn More about prostitute

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Exceptions Quiz III

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

Trending: McCain: Half-Baked, 'Spurious' Nationalism

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066