celibacy

noun

cel·​i·​ba·​cy ˈse-lə-bə-sē 

1

: the state of not being married

2

a

: abstention from sexual intercourse

b

: abstention by vow from marriage

priestly celibacy

Synonyms

• purity
• chastity
• abstinence

Examples of celibacy in a Sentence

a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife

Recent Examples on the Web

Sheen is one of a number of celebrities who have been open about going through periods of celibacy. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Lee and her brother William would preach far and wide to attract people to their cause (a necessity, given the lifetime celibacy requirement) and their pursuit of a utopian society free of any and all sin. —Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

Others in the religious sect under Ann Lee’s tutelage are played by Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, and Christopher Abbott as her husband, who eventually defects after the constraints of celibacy become too much to bear. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025

Needless to say, their obsession with celibacy didn’t catch on, and may explain why the Shakers all but died out in recent times. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

celibate "state of not being married" (borrowed from Latin caelibātus, from caelebs "not having a spouse, unmarried" + -ātus -ate entry 2) + -acy — more at celibate entry 1

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

celibacy

noun

cel·​i·​ba·​cy ˈsel-ə-bə-sē 

: the state of not being married

especially : the state of one who has taken a vow not to marry