debauchery

noun

de·​bauch·​ery di-ˈbȯ-chə-rē 

-chrē, 

-ˈbä-

plural debaucheries

1

: extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures : behavior involving sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. that is often considered immoral

The city attracted bootleggers and casino operators. … The debauchery came to a close in 1961, but reminders are all around.

—Caroline Eubanks

More than the debauchery, the concern was all the trash and other waste the event generates.

—Frank Witsil

The book [The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue]: Monty never wants to settle down, preferring to spend his nights—and days—full of debauchery and vice.

—Judith Utz

… Matthew had continued his debaucheries, having chartered a private plane for himself and a bunch of fringe celebrities to go to Corfu for a week of hard-core partying.

—Evgenia Peretz

2

archaic : the act of luring someone away from virtue or duty

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History and Use of Debauchery

Some people come to find debauchery through the Bible, in a manner of speaking.

In a number of modern versions the word may be found in Ephesians 5:18, as in The New International Version's translation: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit....” The Greek word that is translated here as debauchery may be interpreted in many different ways: the King James Version uses excess, whereas the American Standard Version uses riot.

Debauchery always involves behavior—especially sexual behavior or behavior involving alcohol or drugs—that some find morally objectionable. In biblical and spiritual contexts, the word debauchery is deadly serious, but in other situations the word often has a playful connotation, as when a group of friends goes out for a "night of debauchery."

Debauchery began to be used in English in the beginning of the 17th century, and is formed from the earlier word debauch. As a verb debauch initially had the meaning of "to lead astray," especially when referring to leading someone away from another person to whom he or she has an allegiance or duty. In its earliest use as a noun debauch was often used to refer to an instance of eating or drinking too much.

Synonyms of debauchery

• corruption
• immorality
• sin
• evil
• sinfulness

Examples of debauchery in a Sentence

Like St. Augustine carousing his student days away in fourth-century Carthage, [Thomas] Merton had succumbed to such physical and intellectual debaucheries as New York offered a Columbia undergraduate in the 1930's: wine, women and some Communist fellow-traveling. —Mark Silk, New York Times Book Review, 30 Mar. 1986

… they regard all music and everything pleasant as forms of debauchery, and will not confess to any knowledge or practice unless you can convince them that you are as abandoned a profligate as themselves. —Bernard Shaw, letter, 25 Nov. 1948

I have seen a dozen boys stretched on the grass within a circumference of fifty feet, all of them smoking cigarettes and reading dime novels. It was a scene of inspiring debauchery, even to the most craven spectator. —H. L. Mencken, Happy Days, 1940

He later regretted the debauchery of his youth.

He recalled the evening's debaucheries with regret.

Recent Examples on the Web

The happy couple, naturally, take occasional breaks to sip champagne, soak in a bubble bath and lasciviously feed each other ice cream amid the barely dressed, hedonistic debauchery. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Buffalo Bills games are Disney World for NFL tailgating debauchery, but there's a method to the madness. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

McNeil has made a career out of reliving the gritty tales of debauchery and explosive expression that gave rise to the Ramones and CBGB’s and shocking tales of New York in the 1970s. — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The Picture of Dorian Gray An enchanted portrait and a life of debauchery are at the core of this lavish literary horror by Oscar Wilde. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

debauch entry 1 + -ery

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

debauchery

noun

de·​bauch·​ery di-ˈbȯch-(ə-)rē 

-ˈbäch-

plural debaucheries

: extreme and unreasonable involvement in physical pleasures