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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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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. 2023

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
Thus begins a recently leaked document calling for an end to prohibitions on sex work.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People are waking up to the fact that laws against sex work actually help human traffickers.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another huge impetus behind the movement to legalize sex work is the current focus on ending the scourge of sex trafficking.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, the data are pretty clearly in favor of legalizing sex work to improve public health.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The World Health Organization recommends that countries decriminalize sex work.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST