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
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Recent Examples of courtesan
The workers at Sheri’s Ranch, who call themselves courtesans, were given a new contract in December that would give the brothel control over their intellectual property and power of attorney.
—
Jessica Hill, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Marquise de Merteuil, betrayed by Valmont, embarks on a daring journey to become Paris’ leading courtesan.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025
Annoyed with her nephew’s behavior, the Vicomte’s aunt, Madame de Rosemonde (Diane Kruger), mentors Isabelle and boldly transforms her into one of Paris’ leading courtesans.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
The victims are local teenagers, seized in roundups, while the courtesans, whose ghastly storytelling each night inspires the action, are like camp followers, the guards collaborators.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtesan
Jessica Hill, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Marquise de Merteuil, betrayed by Valmont, embarks on a daring journey to become Paris’ leading courtesan.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2025
Annoyed with her nephew’s behavior, the Vicomte’s aunt, Madame de Rosemonde (Diane Kruger), mentors Isabelle and boldly transforms her into one of Paris’ leading courtesans.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
The victims are local teenagers, seized in roundups, while the courtesans, whose ghastly storytelling each night inspires the action, are like camp followers, the guards collaborators.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courtesan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtesan
Noun
-
The front desk clerk exchanged passports for iron keys while also running a prostitute ring; peddlers roamed the premises hawking lacquer boxes and sports jerseys in garbled English.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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Legend says both Watson and Bemis were prostitutes, for instance.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Bemis, sold by her family in China and sent to America, worked as a domestic, not as a hooker.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The trope of the hooker-in-the-dumpster is as old as TV itself.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courtesan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtesan. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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