chaste

American  

[chayst] / tʃeɪst /

adjective

chaster, chastest

1. refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virtuous.

   Synonyms:

   continent

   Antonyms:

   immoral

2. virgin.

3. not engaging in sexual relations; celibate.

4. free from obscenity; decent.

   chaste conversation.

   Synonyms:

   proper, decorous, clean

   Antonyms:

   coarse

5. undefiled or stainless.

   chaste, white snow.

   Synonyms:

   unsullied

6. pure in style; not excessively ornamented; simple.

   Synonyms:

   neat, unaffected

   Antonyms:

   ornate

7. Obsolete. not married.

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chaste British  

/ tʃeɪst /

adjective

1. not having experienced sexual intercourse; virginal

2. abstaining from sexual intercourse, esp that which is unlawful or immoral

3. (of conduct, speech, etc) pure; decent; modest

4. (of style or taste) free from embellishment; simple; restrained

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Usage

What does chaste mean? Chaste is most commonly used to describe someone who refrains from sexual activity that’s considered immoral, especially according to the teachings of a certain religion. The state or quality of being chaste is chastity. The word chaste can also be used to describe someone who refrains from all sexual activity—someone who is celibate. When members of certain religions take a vow of chastity, this is usually what it means. 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 being chaste.

Other Word Forms

• chasteness
  noun
• chastely
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of chaste

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin castus “clean, pure, chaste”

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Explanation

If you belong to a chastity club, you might have to take a pledge to be chaste until marriage. Chaste can be defined as "pure and virtuous," but basically it means "not having sex." This word is related to the Latin source of the verb castrate "to remove a man's testicles," so it's definitely related to sex. And chaste is from the same Latin source as the noun caste "a Hindu social class separated from other classes." So the word chaste means no sex, and the word caste means pure and virtuous.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chaste chaster chastest

Jesus is widely thought to have never married and to have lived a chaste life.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

K-dramas are famously chaste, which is part of their global appeal.

From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2023

Still, these were details ABC might have accounted for before constructing the sensitive, chaste gentleman fantasy that made everyone weak in the knees.

From Salon ● Dec. 2, 2023

And he’ll do it with the same playbook he brought to the politics of his marriage: Be charming, in the service of making radical ideals seem wholesome, chaste, and harmless.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2023

We aren’t going to the river though, we won’t see the little cupolas on the buildings down that way, white with blue and gold trim, such chaste gaiety.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

But it remained for the chaster genius of Addison to banish this painful topic from his elegant pages.

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 by Isaac Disraeli

Then blush no more; but let thy chaster flame, That knows no cause, know no effects of shame.

From Thomas Stanley: His Original Lyrics, Complete, In Their Collated Readings of 1647, 1651, 1657. With an Introduction, Textual Notes, A List of Editions, An Appendis of Translation, and a Portrait. by Thomas Stanley

Nor Cupid there less blood doth spill, But heads his shafts with chaster love, Not feather’d with a sparrow’s quill, But of a dove.

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 3 by Isaac Disraeli

"Unmatcht for beauty, chaster than the ayre," wrote one poet.

From The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened by Anne MacDonell

Her bosom is love's paradise,      There is no heav'n but in her eyes;      She's chaster than the turtle-dove,      And fairer than the queen of love:      Yet all perfections do combine      To beautifie my Valentine.

From The Lucasta Poems by Richard Lovelace

For decades Bollywood produced the chastest of films: boy met girl, but there were no kisses, hips only thrust during dance numbers, and the audience knew that romance would be followed by marriage.

From Time Magazine Archive

One day lives always in my memory; one chastest, heavenliest day of communion with the soul of things.

From Woman in the Ninteenth Century and Kindred Papers Relating to the Sphere, Condition and Duties, of Woman. by Margaret Fuller

‘The chastest poet and royalest, Vergilius Maro, that to the memory of man is known.’

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Edmund Luce

Foam at the mouth because King Thomas, lord Not only of your vassals but amours, Thro' chastest honour of the Decalogue Hath used the full authority of his Church To put her into Godstow nunnery.

From Becket and other plays by Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson

Our profession is the chastest of all; even the shadow of a fault tarnishes the lustre of our finest achievements.

From The Student's Life of Washington; Condensed from the Larger Work of Washington Irving For Young Persons and for the Use of Schools by Washington Irving

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Related Words

• celibate
• monogamous
• platonic
• subdued
• unblemished
• virginal

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