libertine

[ lib-er-teen, -tin ]

noun

1. a person who is morally or sexually unrestrained, especially a dissolute man; a profligate; rake.

   Synonyms: sensualist, lecher, debauchee, roué

   Antonyms: prude

2. a freethinker in religious matters.
3. a person freed from slavery in ancient Rome.

adjective

1. free of moral, especially sexual, restraint; dissolute; licentious.

   Synonyms: lewd, lascivious, sensual, amoral

2. freethinking in religious matters.
3. Archaic. unrestrained; uncontrolled.

libertine

/ ˈlɪbəˌtiːn; -ˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a morally dissolute person

adjective

1. morally dissolute

Derived Forms

• ˈliberˌtinage, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of libertine¹

1350–1400; Middle English libertyn < Latin lībertīnus of a freedman (adj.), freedman (noun), equivalent to lībert ( us ) freedman (apparently by reanalysis of liber-tās liberty as libert-ās ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of libertine¹

C14 (in the sense: freedman, dissolute person): from Latin lībertīnus freedman, from lībertus freed, from līber free

Example Sentences

Prince may have pranced around like a carefree libertine onstage, but in rehearsal he was more drill sergeant than sprite.

From The Daily Beast

In this way, bisexual is code for libertine, which is something else altogether.

From The Daily Beast

Game of Thrones had an overly sensual libertine while House of Cards had a manipulative psychopath.

From The Daily Beast

And they were both these libertine figures during their lives.

From The Daily Beast

She sought to arouse what attention she could by running for governor as the most libertine of libertarians.

From The Daily Beast

The young scholar always allows himself a number of libertine sonnets, and we avow it is particularly disagreeable to us.

From Project Gutenberg

I doubt it, sire, and I advise you to send away this libertine St. Luc, who is resolved not to amend.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew absolutely nothing about her except the story she told of childish innocence and the whims of a selfish libertine.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, under a libertine prince, the destinies of France were at the mercy of a valet de chambre.

From Project Gutenberg

A man whos got a code of morals is moral, whether hes a libertine, a horse thief or—a minister.

From Project Gutenberg