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sex work

[ seks-wurk ]

/ ˈsɛks ˌwɜrk /

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noun

the sex industry or work in this industry, including prostitution, pornography, stripping, or pornographic modeling intended to sexually arouse clients.

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Origin of sex work

First recorded in 1930–35 in the sense “the academic study of sexual behavior,” and in 1980–85 for the current sense

OTHER WORDS FROM sex work

sex work·er, noun

Words nearby sex work

sexual revolution, sexual role-play, sexual selection, sex up, Sexwale, sex work, sex worker, sexy, Seychelles, Seychellois, Seyfert galaxy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sex work in a sentence

She identified five areas on which she will work after she met with trade unionists, sex workers and the LGBTQ community, among other groups.
Ruby Corado backs transgender Central American Parliament candidate|Michael K. Lavers|February 11, 2021|Washington Blade
A lot of advocates for sex workers are saying that ultimately what’s happened is it’s made life much less safe for sex workers.
Twenty-Six Words Created the Internet. What Will It Take to Save It?|Stephen Engelberg|February 9, 2021|ProPublica
This has nothing to do with sex workers and everything to do with her interest in having your penis in her anus.
Is the Sex Solution Worse Than the Sex Problem?|Eugene Robinson|February 2, 2021|Ozy
I talked to a sex worker who very quickly had to figure out how to make his business Covid-19-safe.
Stories from a Lost Year|Emily VanDerWerff|December 31, 2020|Vox

I rewatched Housebound directly after refreshing myself on a true-crime case in which police repeatedly refused to take a sex worker’s claims seriously because her profession diminished her credibility.
One Good Thing: Housebound is the perfect horror comedy for the perpetually quarantined|Aja Romano|December 31, 2020|Vox
However much we gossip about heterosexual couples with large age gaps, we at least refrain from calling them sex offenders.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic|Samantha Allen|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Scruff believes that sex is not the primary concern of users.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Why, some might be asking, am I being so harsh on their work so soon after they died?
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
With him one is at high pressure all the time, and I have gained a good many more ideas from him than I can work up in a hurry.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
In fact, except for Ramona's help, it would have been a question whether even Alessandro could have made Baba work in harness.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
The sad end of the mission to King M'Bongo has been narrated in the body of this work.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Entrez donc, 'tis the work of one of your compatriots; and here, though a heretic, you may consider yourself on English ground.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various