fornication

[ fawr-ni-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other.
2. Bible. idolatry.

fornication

/ ˌfɔːnɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. voluntary sexual intercourse outside marriage
2. law voluntary sexual intercourse between two persons of the opposite sex, where one is or both are unmarried
3. Bible sexual immorality in general, esp adultery

Other Words From

• for·ni·ca·to·ry [fawr, -ni-k, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fornication¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fornicacioun, from Late Latin fornicātiōn-, stem of fornicātiō; equivalent to fornicate ¹ + -ion

Example Sentences

Yes, cities—those reviled warts on the American imagination, the ancient sources of all sin and fornication.

From The Daily Beast

But, despite the obvious temptations, many come to Duck Beach precisely to avoid fornication - by finding a marriage partner.

From The Daily Beast

And by the facility of her fornication she defiled the land, and played the harlot with stones and with stocks.

From Project Gutenberg

And I said to her that was worn out in her adulteries: Now will this woman still continue in her fornication.

From Project Gutenberg

It signifies a state of depravity,—a quality, and not an act,—and never can be properly translated by "adultery" or "fornication."

From Project Gutenberg

Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.

From Project Gutenberg

With this spiritual fornication, an idolatrous worship, there was connected the grossest lusts of the flesh.

From Project Gutenberg