licentious

American  

[lahy-sen-shuhs] / laɪˈsɛn ʃəs /

adjective

1. sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.

2. unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.

   Synonyms:

   profligate, abandoned

   Antonyms:

   lawful

3. going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules.

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licentious British  

/ laɪˈsɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. sexually unrestrained or promiscuous

2. rare showing disregard for convention

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Other Word Forms

• licentiousness
  noun
• nonlicentious
  adjective
• overlicentious
  adjective
• unlicentious
  adjective
• licentiously
  adverb
• nonlicentiously
  adverb
• overlicentiously
  adverb
• unlicentiously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of licentious

First recorded in 1525–35, licentious is from the Latin word licentiōsus “unrestrained”; see license, -ous

Explanation

Someone who is licentious behaves or speaks inappropriately, usually in regards to sex. What some might call a licentious senior citizen, others would simply refer to as "a dirty old man" (or woman). We usually talk about licentious behavior, but there also can be licentious photographs. Besides being inappropriate, licentious behavior is also usually regarded as immoral. If at all possible, therefore, licentious is a description you should seek to avoid for yourself.

Example Sentences

Licentious in morals,—often in prison, or at court, or in the army, or a fugitive, he has left in his numerous little poems many a curious record of his variegated existence.

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Disraeli, Isaac

If the Licentious had not utterly forgot what it is to be modest, they would know that offended Modesty labours under one of the greatest Sufferings to which human Life can be exposed.

From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph

Licentious blockades, irregularly enlisted or impressed seamen, and the property of honest commerce seized with violence, and even plundered under legal pretenses, are disorders never separable from the conflicts of war upon the ocean.

From A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Volume 2, part 2: John Quincy Adams by Richardson, James D. (James Daniel)

Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, Before mine eyes the vision spread Of things that might have been: Licentious riot, cruel strife, Forgotten prayers, a wasted life Dark red with sin!

From Love-Songs of Childhood by Field, Eugene

Licentious and avaricious, he amassed great wealth; and when he died on the 25th of October 1292 he left numerous estates in Shropshire, Worcestershire, Somerset, Kent, Surrey and elsewhere.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various