promiscuous

[pruh-mis-kyoo-uhs]

adjective

characterized by or involving indiscriminate mingling or association, especially having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis.
consisting of parts, elements, or individuals of different kinds brought together without order.
indiscriminate; without discrimination.

casual; irregular; haphazard.

Origin of promiscuous

1595–1605; < Latin prōmiscuus mixed up, equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + misc(ēre) to mix + -uus deverbal adj. suffix; see -ous

Related formspro·mis·cu·ous·ly, adverbpro·mis·cu·ous·ness, nounhy·per·pro·mis·cu·ous, adjectivehy·per·pro·mis·cu·ous·ly, adverbhy·per·pro·mis·cu·ous·ness, nounnon·pro·mis·cu·ous, adjectivenon·pro·mis·cu·ous·ly, adverbnon·pro·mis·cu·ous·ness, nounun·pro·mis·cu·ous, adjectiveun·pro·mis·cu·ous·ly, adverbun·pro·mis·cu·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for promiscuous

1. unchaste. 2. hodgepodge, confused, mixed, jumbled. See miscellaneous. 3. careless.

Antonyms for promiscuous

1, 2. pure. 3. selective.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for promiscuously

Contemporary Examples of promiscuously

That year, among the many Double Golds promiscuously handed out to various bourbons, one went to Old Grand Dad.
The Cult of Pappy van Winkle
Eric Felten
December 3, 2014

Historical Examples of promiscuously

They sit down as they list, promiscuously, like a crowd, and all armed.
Tacitus on Germany
Tacitus
Shall the unworthy be promiscuously admitted to its privileges?
Bertha and Her Baptism
Nehemiah Adams
She had read voraciously and promiscuously one subject after another.
Democracy An American Novel
Henry Adams
Through other; one thing blended with the other, promiscuously.
Letters of Samuel Rutherford
Samuel Rutherford
Here we took our temporary abode—men and women, promiscuously.
Fifty Years in Chains
Charles Ball

British Dictionary definitions for promiscuously

promiscuous

adjective

indulging in casual and indiscriminate sexual relationships
consisting of a number of dissimilar parts or elements mingled in a confused or indiscriminate manner
indiscriminate in selection
casual or heedless

Derived Formspromiscuously, adverbpromiscuousness, noun

Word Origin for promiscuous

C17: from Latin prōmiscuus indiscriminate, from pro- 1 + miscēre to mix

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

Word Origin and History for promiscuously

promiscuous

adj.

c.1600, people or things, "mingled confusedly, grouped together without order, consisting of a disorderly mix; indiscriminate," from Latin promiscuus "mixed, indiscriminate, in common, without distinction," from pro- "forward" (see pro-) + miscere "to mix" (see mix (v.)). Meaning "indiscriminate in sexual relations" recorded by 1857, from promiscuity. The Latin adjective was used with conubia (e.g. between patricians and plebeians). Related: Promiscuously.