adultery

American  

[uh-duhl-tuh-ree] / əˈdʌl tə ri /

noun

plural

adulteries

1. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their lawful spouse.

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adultery British  

/ əˈdʌltərɪ /

noun

1. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse

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Usage

What does adultery mean? Adultery is a consensual sexual relationship or encounter between someone who’s married and a person they’re not married to (who may or may not be married to someone else). In other words, it can be between two people who are both married to other people, or between a married person and a nonmarried person. Typically, for something to be considered adultery, at least one of the partners must be married. On the other hand, similar words like cheating, infidelity, and unfaithfulness can be used regardless of whether either person is married—they simply refer to a (usually sexual) relationship or encounter between people when one or both of them is in a committed relationship with someone else. When it happens with someone other than one’s spouse, a long-term relationship (often called an affair), a single sexual encounter, or anything in between can be considered to constitute adultery. In some cases, a relationship may even be considered adultery when it’s nonsexual but intimate (this is sometimes called an emotional affair). The word adultery is especially used in a religious context, in which it’s often considered a sin. For that reason, it’s often used with the verb commit. It’s also sometimes used in a legal context, such as during divorce proceedings. Adultery is a crime in some places (including in some U. S. states, though people aren’t often charged for it). Adultery is associated with a considerable amount of stigma. The word adultery and its related terms are always used negatively and imply a critical judgment of such actions. Someone who participates in adultery can be called an adulterer. Such people or relationships can be described as adulterous. The word adulteress specifically refers to a woman who has engaged in adultery. (It has been more common throughout history for women to be blamed—and punished—for adulterous relationships than men.)Example: Adultery is a profound breach of trust in a marriage.

Etymology

Origin of adultery

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English adulterie, from Latin adulterium, equivalent to adulter ( adulterer ) + -ium -ium; replacing Middle English a(d)voutri(e), from Old French avout(e)rie

Compare meaning

How does adultery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• adultery vs. fornication

Explanation

Adultery is a word for cheating — cheating on your spouse with another person. Adultery isn’t a crime, but some people consider it a sin. If two people are dating, and one fools around with someone else, it's not adultery. Only married people can commit adultery. If you commit adultery — and your spouse finds out — then you’ve got a lot of explaining to do. Although it's still highly frowned upon, cultural attitudes toward adultery have changed a lot: the classic book The Scarlet Letter shows how harshly women were once treated for committing adultery.

Example Sentences

Hence war, hence adultery, hence bestiality, Tim continues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

She later accused him of adultery again leading to Kimberley trying to barricade herself in a room.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Can you bridge the ethical chasm in a man who hates adultery but seems neutral about most other sins?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

Fault-based divorce, on the other hand, requires the partner seeking the divorce to provide evidence of their spouse's wrongdoing on specific grounds that also vary state-to-state, including cruelty, adultery, intemperance and abandonment.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2024

I never mentioned the previously familiar subjects of adultery and fornication, and I never mentioned immoral evils.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• infidelity