as in vice
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money
prostitution is illegal in most states
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Recent Examples of prostitution
Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to state prostitution charges involving a minor.
—
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Kamaria Nelson, 25, was charged with pandering and robbing the girl, who police say left her group home last year in the company of another teen, two women, and an adult who allegedly coerced her into prostitution.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Alleged criminal activity, including violence, drug issues, a deadly beating, and prostitution at Annie's, for decades boiled over to Cincinnati City Council in 2018.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026
Those trips took place years before Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to prostitution involving a minor.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Kamaria Nelson, 25, was charged with pandering and robbing the girl, who police say left her group home last year in the company of another teen, two women, and an adult who allegedly coerced her into prostitution.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Alleged criminal activity, including violence, drug issues, a deadly beating, and prostitution at Annie's, for decades boiled over to Cincinnati City Council in 2018.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026
Those trips took place years before Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to prostitution involving a minor.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prostitution
harlotry
Noun
-
In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing.—
Time,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
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Within the slippery world of harlotry—where class can be transcended and humanity bought—relationships form that defy our historical assumptions about the bounded categories of human experience.—
Sarah Marshall,
New Republic,
2 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Prostitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prostitution. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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