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

Example Sentences

In that case, a woman and man convicted of adultery were publicly lashed 100 times each in the presence of religious scholars and local Taliban authorities, it said.

From Seattle Times

Malcolm owns the titular bar and Jess is an attorney; class differences underlie personal strife as the couple struggles with adultery, fertility and civility.

From Los Angeles Times

John Litzler, general counsel for the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission, noted that the Ten Commandments contain themes that parents may not want their children exposed to, like adultery and "coveting" other people's spouses.

From Salon

Many people still remember Charles’ admission of adultery and the leaked tapes of intimate conversations between Charles and Camilla, including one in which he compared himself to a tampon.

From Seattle Times

But he was certainly misunderstood, as his thoughts in the wide-ranging interview were reduced in the popular imagination to utterances about “lust” and “adultery.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• infidelity