as in prostitute
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money
the protagonist of the novel is a composite of several real-life courtesans who plied their trade among the decadent aristocracy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of courtesan
Her character in the show, set in feudal Japan, is the highest-ranking courtesan in Izu, who is skilled in ways known only to the select few men who can afford her.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Lakan later earns enough money to buy out the contract of even the most expensive courtesan at the Verdigris House.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Think of the many historical instances of artificially easy companionship for powerful men, all the geisha and the courtesans.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Morena Baccarin plays Inara Serra, a licensed Companion (a high-status courtesan) who rents one of Serenity’s shuttles as her private quarters and place of business.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtesan
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Lakan later earns enough money to buy out the contract of even the most expensive courtesan at the Verdigris House.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Think of the many historical instances of artificially easy companionship for powerful men, all the geisha and the courtesans.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Morena Baccarin plays Inara Serra, a licensed Companion (a high-status courtesan) who rents one of Serenity’s shuttles as her private quarters and place of business.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtesan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtesan
Noun
-
The only things shaky about Relish are the junkies, prostitutes, suicidal depressives, and sinners who populate Osborne's songs.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Serial killer Lorenzo Jerome Gilyard was convicted in 2007 for killing six women in Kansas City but is believed to have raped and strangled two girls and 11 women, most of whom had worked as prostitutes, from 1977 to 1993.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Three other Scottish squad reinforcements -- lock Gregor Brown, hooker Ewan Ashman and prop Rory Sutherland -- were named on the bench.—
Nick Mulvenney,
Reuters,
21 July 2025
-
Strip clubs, booze, hookers, blow, the whole nine yards.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courtesan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtesan. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share