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 his or her 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) as a prostitute.
to put to any base or unworthy use: to prostitute one's talents.
OTHER WORDS FOR prostitute
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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, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
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, nounWord 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
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