DictionaryAI

prostitute

PROS-ti-toot/ˈpɹɑːstətuːt/UKPROS-ti-tyoot/ˈpɹɒstɪtjuːt/

Pluralprostitutes

Verbprostitutes, prostituting, prostituted

7 meanings of prostitute

Practice

  1. 1
    sex workernouncountable
    Someone, usually a woman, who has sex with people for money, often as a job.

    The program helps prostitutes find safe housing and other work.

    The film follows a prostitute who is trying to leave the streets.

    UsageMany people now say sex worker instead.

  2. 2
    sell sexverbreflexivetransitive
    To offer yourself or another person for sex in return for money.

    After losing her job, she feared she would have to prostitute herself to pay the rent.

    Police arrested a man for prostituting young women in hotel rooms.

    Similarsell

    Note
  3. 3
    sell outverbtransitive
    To use yourself or your talent in a shameful way for money or other gain.

    She refused to prostitute her talent for a quick paycheck.

    He felt he had prostituted his art by painting ads for a fast-food chain.

    UsageOften prostitute your talent or art.

    Similarcheapen, debase, degrade

    Note
  4. 4
    nounderogatorycountable
    Someone who does shameful things just to get money or something else for themselves.

    He called the senator a prostitute who would vote any way for money.

    Old fans called the singer a prostitute for selling his songs to so many ads.

    Similarsellout

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    adjective
    Having sex with many people, or, in newer use, being someone who sells sex.

    The clinic offers free care to prostitute women.

    The charity runs a shelter for prostitute women in the city.

    Similarlicentious, promiscuous, wanton

    Oppositechaste

    Note
  2. 6
    adjectiveobsolete
    Dishonest, and willing to do wrong to get things for yourself.
    [H]e speaks a languages that merits not reply, and which can only excite contempt for his prostitute principles, or pity for his ignorance.
    1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of ManHere, prostitute means corrupt and willing to act dishonestly for gain.
    Note
  3. 7
    adjectiveobsolete
    Open to something shameful, or forced to suffer it.
    As a matter of ease, exposed and prostitute to every Mother-wit, and to be attained without any great care or study.
    1651, Thomas Hobbes, Philosophicall rudiments concerning government and societyHere, prostitute means exposed to shameful use by anyone.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin prostitutus, from words meaning "before" and "to set up".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • English prostitute derives from Latin prostitutus. en.wiktionary.org
  • The Latin source ultimately combines elements meaning “before” and “to set up”. en.wiktionary.org