Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for sex worker. Search instead for Sex+Worker.
Synonyms

sex worker

American  
[seks wur-ker] / ˈsɛks ˌwɜr kər /

noun

  1. a person employed in the sex industry, as a prostitute, pornographic film actor, stripper, nude model, or creator of sexually explicit online content.


sex worker British  

noun

  1. a prostitute

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sex worker

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

“It’s about respecting the individual to make his or her choices as much as possible. The sex worker can choose to do sex work, or she can choose something else.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

During the same oral argument, you had Neil Gorsuch insisting that the book "Pride Puppy" involved a sex worker who was into bondage.

From Salon • May 16, 2025

A former sex worker, actor and drag queen, Beyer was elected to national parliament in 1999 after several years as mayor of Carterton, a rural town on the country's North Island.

From Reuters • Mar. 6, 2023

The NYC police department sends 10 officers to arrest one sex worker?!

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2018

"Lots of transgender women are migrating," says Roma, a sex worker and outreach officer for local human rights organisation, Tais Plus.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2018

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "sex worker" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com