unchaste

American  

[uhn-cheyst] / ʌnˈtʃeɪst /

adjective

1. not chaste; not virtuous; not pure.

   an unchaste woman.

2. characterized by sexual suggestiveness, transgression, or excess; lascivious; bawdy.

   an unchaste exhibition.

---

Usage

What does unchaste mean? Unchaste is most commonly used to describe someone or something considered sexually immoral, especially according to the teachings of a certain religion. It can also be used in a more general way to mean morally impure. The opposite is chaste, which is most commonly used to describe someone who refrains from sexual activity that’s considered immoral. Example: When I went to Catholic high school, my religion teachers always emphasized the dangers of being unchaste.

Other Word Forms

• unchastely adverb
• unchasteness noun
• unchastity noun

Etymology

Origin of unchaste

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; un- ¹, chaste

Example Sentences

A character in Plautus's comedy of The Merchant1182 complains of the difference in codes for unchaste husbands and unchaste wives.

From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham

For I tell you she hath so great a power of pleading that, being innocent, she will with difficulty be proved unchaste.'

From Privy Seal His Last Venture by Ford, Ford Madox

Foul, unchaste and superfluous words have no place therein, nor have any inappropriate elements, elements void of significance and without virtue and life.

From Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost by Lenker, John Nicholas

Don John, enemy of Claudio, plans to thwart the marriage by letting it appear that Hero is unchaste.

From William Shakespeare by Masefield, John

Choose, then, two equal judges of the field: Next morning shall decide the doubtful strife, Condemn the unchaste, or quit the virtuous wife.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04 by Scott, Walter, Sir