chastity

[ chas-ti-tee ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being chaste.

chastity

/ ˈtʃæstɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being chaste; purity
2. abstention from sexual intercourse; virginity or celibacy

   a vow of chastity

Other Words From

• non·chasti·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chastity¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chastite, variant of chastete, from Old French, from Latin castitāt-, stem of castitās; equivalent to chaste + -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of chastity¹

C13: from Old French chasteté, from Latin castitās, from castus chaste

Example Sentences

The UN mission also noted that a “Hijab and Chastity” bill was in the final stages of approval before Iran’s Guardian Council and could be finalised imminently.

From BBC

Born Henri Grouès in 1912 in Lyon, Abbé Pierre was ordained in 1938, taking a vow of chastity.

From BBC

Speaking on Monday, the head of Emmaus International, Adrien Caboche, confirmed that throughout that time Abbé Pierre’s non-observance of his vow of chastity had been no secret to those in the know.

From BBC

Weeks before the unrest in the summer of 2022, President Raisi had ordered a tightening of Iran's "hijab and chastity law" which obligated women to behave and dress modestly.

From BBC

The sisters’ vows of chastity and poverty and the air of secrecy that shrouds their cloistered lives are all intriguingly antithetical to modern Western values of sex, money and fame.

From New York Times

Related Words

• abstinence
• decency
• monogamy
• virginity