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prostitute

[ pros-ti-toot, -tyoot ]
/ ˈprɒs tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /
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noun
a person who engages in sexual intercourse or other sex acts for money; sex worker.
a person who willingly uses their talent or ability in a base and unworthy way, usually for money.
verb (used with object), pros·ti·tut·ed, pros·ti·tut·ing.
to sell or offer (oneself) to provide sex acts for money.
to put to any base or unworthy use: to prostitute one's talents.
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Origin of prostitute

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin prōstitūta and prōstitūtus, noun uses of feminine and masculine forms of prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituere “to place before, expose (for sale),” equivalent to prō- “before” + -stitū-, combining form of statuere “to make stand” + -tus past participle suffix; see pro-1, status

OTHER WORDS FROM prostitute

pros·ti·tu·tor, nounun·pros·ti·tut·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prostitute in a sentence

  • Prostituting their unique position in semi-literate, village-tribal societies – intellectuals in the Balkans sold out en masse.

    After the Rain|Sam Vaknin

British Dictionary definitions for prostitute

prostitute
/ (ˈprɒstɪˌtjuːt) /

noun
a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
a man who engages in such activity, esp in homosexual practices
a person who offers his talent or work for unworthy purposes
verb (tr)
to offer (oneself or another) in sexual intercourse for money
to offer (a person, esp oneself, or a person's talent) for unworthy purposes

Derived forms of prostitute

prostitution, nounprostitutor, noun

Word Origin for prostitute

C16: from Latin prōstituere to expose to prostitution, from prō- in public + statuere to cause to stand
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
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