pros·ti·tute
ˈprä-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
plural prostitutes
1
sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below
: a person who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : sex worker
2
: a person (such as a writer or painter) who deliberately debases their talents (as for money)
Usage of Prostitute
The terms sex worker and sex work are now preferred to prostitute and prostitution, which are increasingly rejected as offensive. Additionally, prostitute and prostitution are avoided in contexts relating to victimization especially of children because the words there are seen as an egregious mischaracterization of exploitation.
prostituted; prostituting; prostitutes
1
sometimes offensive
: to offer (someone) for sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay
—often used in the phrase to prostitute oneself
2
: to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debase
prostitute one's talents
—often used in the phrase to prostitute oneselfa playwright who prostituted himself by writing commercials
Never mind the knowing smirks about how candidates have always prostituted themselves to special interests …—
Andrew Coyne
Andrew Coyne
sometimes offensive
: to act as a sex worker : to offer oneself for sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay
When she prostituted, she worked as a call girl …—Joanne Meyerowitz
see usage paragraph at prostitute entry 1
Joanne Meyerowitz
archaic
: devoted to corrupt purposes
Synonyms of prostitute
Examples of prostitute in a Sentence
Verb
a writer who prostituted his talents by writing commercials
a serious writer prostituting himself by writing pulp novels for money
Recent Examples on the Web
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Stretching from the open spaces east of Aurora to the foothills of Golden, Colfax has hosted presidents and addicts, celebrities and prostitutes — occasionally in the same venues — at its hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs, theaters, retail shops and residences, Barber said.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Best friends, transgender women, and prostitutes Sin-Dee and Alexandra (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor) catch up at a Los Angeles doughnut joint on Christmas Day.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 July 2024
Rachel McRady, People.com, 23 July 2025
The production was controversial when it was first performed in the early 1900s; the titular character is a former prostitute and brothel operator.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostitute
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Records later released from that case show the prosecutor presented the girls molested by Epstein as prostitutes and liars when speaking to the grand jury.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Stretching from the open spaces east of Aurora to the foothills of Golden, Colfax has hosted presidents and addicts, celebrities and prostitutes — occasionally in the same venues — at its hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs, theaters, retail shops and residences, Barber said.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Driscoll said that Combs did not make any money from prostituting women and so he could not be classed as a pimp and should face a lesser sentence under the Act.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Best friends, transgender women, and prostitutes Sin-Dee and Alexandra (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor) catch up at a Los Angeles doughnut joint on Christmas Day.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 July 2024
Adjective
Pretty Woman follows wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Gere, 75) who falls for prostitute Vivian Ward (Roberts) and brings her into his world.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 23 July 2025
The production was controversial when it was first performed in the early 1900s; the titular character is a former prostitute and brothel operator.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prostitute
Cite this Entry
“Prostitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostitute. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prostitute
1 of 2 verb
pros·ti·tute
ˈpräs-tə-ˌt(y)üt
prostituted; prostituting
: to put (as one's talents) to unworthy uses : debase
prostitute
2 of 2 noun
: a person who engages in sexual activities for money
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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