unchaste

[ uhn-cheyst ]

adjective

1. not chaste; not virtuous; not pure:

   an unchaste woman.

2. characterized by sexual suggestiveness, transgression, or excess; lascivious; bawdy:

   an unchaste exhibition.

Other Words From

• un·chastely adverb
• un·chasteness un·chas·ti·ty [uhn-, chas, -ti-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unchaste¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; un- ¹, chaste

Example Sentences

He told the gods that they were cowards, told the goddesses that they were gullible and unchaste.

From Literature

The only light came from a few candles, and all she could make out were silhouettes writhing and grinding in decidedly unchaste ways.

From Literature

Onstage next to her, Mrs. Pence, an evangelical Christian whose initial distaste for Mr. Trump’s unchaste behavior has been widely reported, gave rare public testimony about how much she thinks Mr. Trump respects women.

From New York Times

Halliday’s début arrived in February, dangling bait: a roman à clef starring an aging and unchaste Philip Roth.

From The New Yorker

Well, because counsel understands that to many it demonstrates the unchaste character of the victim.

From New York Times

About This Word

What does unchaste mean?

Unchaste is most commonly used to describe someone or something considered sexually immoral, especially according to the teachings of a certain religion.

It can also be used in a more general way to mean morally impure.

The opposite is chaste, which is most commonly used to describe someone who refrains from sexual activity that’s considered immoral.

Example: When I went to Catholic high school, my religion teachers always emphasized the dangers of being unchaste.

Where does unchaste come from?

The first records of the word unchaste come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin castus, meaning “pure.” The word caste comes from the same root. The prefix un- means “not.”

Whether someone is considered morally pure or chaste heavily depends on cultural and religious norms, and the idea of chastity may differ from one religion to another or one person to another. In Christianity, the word unchaste is typically used to describe those who engage in sexual activity outside of marriage or sexual activity without the goal of reproduction. Describing someone as unchaste is a moral judgment, and the person may take offense to this, especially if they don’t believe in the same set of morals. In many religions, the promotion of chastity has traditionally been directed more toward women, leading some people to criticize such lessons as sexist or oppressive.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to unchaste?

• unchastely (adverb)
• unchasteness (noun)
• unchastity (noun)
• chaste (adjective)

What are some synonyms for unchaste?

• impure

What are some words that share a root or word element with unchaste? 

• chastity
• caste

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing unchaste?

• immoral
• sex
• virginity 
• marriage
• sin

How is unchaste used in real life?

The word unchaste is usually used in the context of religion, or in the criticism of religious teaching about such things.

So far, you’ve called me (a 33 year old Roman Catholic virgin, chastity speaker, and chastity author) vulgar, unchaste, and now, unChristian—please, tell me more. What about me says “vulgar, unchaste, unChristian”?

— Arleen Spenceley (@ArleenSpenceley) April 29, 2019

Am I the only one annoyed that the Catholic Blogosphere tends to portray men as unchaste pigs as a way of reminding women of their dignity?

— Tommy Tighe (@theghissilent) December 31, 2015