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celibate

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celibate¹

  • /ˈsɛləbət/

Where it comes from

Probably from the noun (“celibacy”) or from celibacy on the model of privacy/private, etc. Alternatively, from Latin caelebs (“single”) + -ate.

adjective cælibate · cœlibate

  1. not comparable Not married.

    Similar: unmarried, single

  2. broadly, not comparable Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures. Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.

    Similar: abstinent, chaste, pure

celibate²

  • /ˈsɛləbət/

noun cælibate · cœlibate

  1. uncountable One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community. Even during the ages that priestly marriage was permitted, celibates obtained a higher reputation for sanctity and virtue than married priests, who infinitely more than celibates were believed subject to infestation by demons.

    Similar: volcel, cel

Similar: celibate, celibatist, abstinent · Opposite: copulator, libertine, sexual partner, person

celibate³

  • /ˈsɛləbət/

Where it comes from

From Latin caelebs + -ate (verb-forming suffix)

verb celibates · celibating · celibated · cælibate · cœlibate

  1. intransitive, rare To practice celibacy. However, be that as it may, Stason celebrated with the boys while Hessel celibated alone.

celibate⁴

  • /ˈsɛləbət/

Where it comes from

From French célibat (“celibacy”), from Latin caelibātus (“celibacy”), from caelebs (“unmarried”); compare German Zölibat (“celibacy”). Equivalent to Latin caelebs + -ate (forming nouns denoting a rank, a state)

noun cælibate · cœlibate

  1. obsolete, uncountable A celibate state; celibacy. He […] preferreth holy Cœlibate before the eſtate of Marriage, […]

    Similar: cel

Similar: celibate, celibatist, abstinent · Opposite: copulator, libertine, sexual partner, person

Thesaurus

noun

Similar: celibate, celibatist, abstinent · Opposite: copulator, libertine, sexual partner, person

noun

Similar: celibate, celibatist, abstinent · Opposite: copulator, libertine, sexual partner, person

Translations

Every language

adj unmarried

Españolcélibe
한국어독신 doksin
日本語独身 dokushin
中文獨身 /独身 dúshēn
Portuguêscelibatário
Françaiscélibataire
Deutschehelos, unverheiratet, keusch, zölibatär, sexuell enthaltsam
Italianocelibe
Ελληνικάάγαμος ágamos
Русскийнежена́тый neženátyj, холосто́й xolostój, незаму́жняя nezamúžnjaja

noun person who is not married

한국어독신자 doksinja
日本語独身 dokushin
中文獨身者 /独身者 dúshēnzhě
Portuguêscelibatário, celibatária
Françaiscélibataire
DeutschUnverheirateter, Unverheiratete, Junggeselle, Junggesellin, Zölibatär, Zölibatärin
Ελληνικάάγαμος ágamos
Русскийхолостя́к xolostják, холосто́й xolostój, незаму́жняя nezamúžnjaja

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MLA

"celibate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/celibate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

celibate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/celibate

Chicago

"celibate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/celibate.

BibTeX
@misc{celibate_2026,
  title = {celibate},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/celibate},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}