chastity
Americannoun
noun
-
the state of being chaste; purity
-
abstention from sexual intercourse; virginity or celibacy
a vow of chastity
Usage
What does chastity mean? Chastity most commonly refers to the quality or virtue of refraining from sexual activity that’s considered immoral, especially according to the teachings of a certain religion.It sometimes means about the same thing as celibacy—refraining from all sexual activity. When members of certain religions take a vow of chastity, this is usually what it means.Chastity is the quality of being chaste. The word chaste can be used to describe someone who refrains sexual activity considered immoral or any sexual activity. Chaste can also be used in a more general way to mean morally pure.Example: When I went to Catholic high school, my religion teachers always emphasized the virtue of chastity.
Other Word Forms
- nonchastity noun
Etymology
Origin of chastity
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chastite, variant of chastete, from Old French, from Latin castitāt-, stem of castitās; equivalent to chaste + -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A monk named Paschalis devotes his life to a biography of the noncanonical saint Wilgefortis, a venerated Christian noblewoman who grew a beard to vouchsafe her chastity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
Iran's National Security Council has paused the implementation of the controversial "hijab and chastity law", which had been due to come into force on Friday.
From BBC • Dec. 16, 2024
Franklin maintained his own list of virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.
From National Geographic • Nov. 8, 2023
What does her choice say about Roman values concerning the conduct of women, chastity, and reputation?
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
The world was full of fathers—was therefore full of misery; full of mothers—therefore of every kind of perversion from sadism to chastity; full of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts—full of madness and suicide.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
