whore

noun \ ˈhȯr , ˈhu̇r \

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

Definition of whore

1 : a woman who engages in sexual acts for money : prostitute; also, informal + offensive : a promiscuous or immoral woman

2 : a male who engages in sexual acts for money

3 : a venal or unscrupulous person

For writers, to blurb or not to blurb can be a tricky matter. … Blurb too often, or include too many blurbs on your book, and you might get called a blurb whore. —Rachel Donadio, New York Times Book Review, 17 Aug. 2008
It was only his vain desire to gain the money he needed to purchase the freedom of his beloved Sarah, a whore in a Sturgeon Street brothel, that had led him to offer his sword in the murderous service of Buljan … —Michael Chabon, "Gentlemen of the Road," in New York Times Magazine, 18 Feb. 2007
I know one guy who became a television writer simply because it afforded him the opportunity to write on a cop show and name all the strippers, crack whores, and nude female corpses after his mother. —Rob Long, National Review, 19 Feb. 2001

Middle English hore, from Old English hōre; akin to Old Norse hōra whore, hōrr adulterer, Latin carus dear — more at charity

First Known Use: before 12th century

verb \ ˈhȯr , ˈhu̇r \

whored; whoring

1 : to have unlawful sexual intercourse as or with a prostitute

2 : to pursue a faithless, unworthy, or idolatrous desire

obsolete : to corrupt by lewd intercourse : debauch

Babe Ruth, who could cuss, guzzle and whore to outdo any sailor of legend, was also the most genial and accommodating of men. —Stephen Jay Gould, New York Times Book Review, 7 May 1989