prostitute

[ pros-ti-toot, -tyoot ]

noun

1. a person who engages in sexual intercourse or other sex acts for money; sex worker.

   Synonyms: strumpet, trollop, courtesan, streetwalker, call girl

2. a person who willingly uses their talent or ability in a base and unworthy way, usually for money.

verb (used with object)

, pros·ti·tut·ed, pros·ti·tut·ing.

1. to sell or offer (oneself) to provide sex acts for money.
2. to put to any base or unworthy use:

   to prostitute one's talents.

prostitute

/ ˈprɒstɪˌtjuːt /

noun

1. a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
2. a man who engages in such activity, esp in homosexual practices
3. a person who offers his talent or work for unworthy purposes

verb

1. to offer (oneself or another) in sexual intercourse for money
2. to offer (a person, esp oneself, or a person's talent) for unworthy purposes

Derived Forms

• ˈprostiˌtutor, noun
• ˌprostiˈtution, noun

Other Words From

• pros·ti·tu·tor noun
• un·pros·ti·tut·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prostitute¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin prōstitūta and prōstitūtus, noun uses of feminine and masculine forms of prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituere “to place before, expose (for sale),” equivalent to prō- “before” + -stitū-, combining form of statuere “to make stand” + -tus past participle suffix; pro- ¹, status

Word History and Origins

Origin of prostitute¹

C16: from Latin prōstituere to expose to prostitution, from prō- in public + statuere to cause to stand

Related Words

• debase
• demean
• pervert