Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

celibate

American  
[sel-uh-bit, -beyt] / ˈsɛl ə bɪt, -ˌbeɪt /

noun

  1. a person who abstains from sexual relations.

  2. a person who remains unmarried, especially for religious reasons.

adjective

  1. observing or pertaining to sexual abstention or a religious vow not to marry.

  2. not married.

celibate British  
/ ˈsɛlɪbɪt /

noun

  1. a person who is unmarried, esp one who has taken a religious vow of chastity

"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

adjective

  1. unmarried, esp by vow

  2. abstaining from sexual intercourse

"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

Other Word Forms

  • celibacy noun
  • noncelibate adjective
  • uncelibate adjective

Etymology

Origin of celibate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin caelib- (stem of caelebs ) “unmarried” + -ate 1

Explanation

A person who refrains from being sexually active is celibate. "They dated for three years in high school but committed to staying celibate until marriage — something they were grateful for after breaking up and marrying others when they got older. While celibate comes from a 17th-century Latin term for "unmarried," today it's used for all people who don't engage in sexual activity. Priests and nuns vow to remain celibate as part of their religious commitments, and many youth groups and religious organizations promote staying celibate until marriage. As a noun, a celibate refers to one who practices celibacy — like the priests and nuns we mentioned.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing celibate

Song of Solomon

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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 meetinghouse stood at the center of every village created by the Shakers, the separatist and celibate Christian religious sect founded in the 18th century that was devoted to communal living and simple, functional design.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Ultimately, Sam decided to be celibate and invest in their fantasy life with their partner.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2025

I decided to spend some time celibate, to abstain not only from sex but also all the attendant activities, including dating and even flirting.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024

Others pointed out that far more people were celibate for reasons that had nothing to do with not finding the right partner.

From Salon • May 15, 2024

I sometimes wonder," Miss Penny added in a different tone, "whether I shall ever be exploited, when I get a little more middle-aged and celibate, by one of these young engineers of the passions.

From Mortal Coils by Huxley, Aldous

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.