prostitute

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prostitute

/ˈpɹɒstɪˌtjuːt/ UK
[ˈpɹɒstɪtʰjuːt] UK
/ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt/
[ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt]
/ˈpɹɑstɪˌtu(ː)t/ US
[ˈpɹɑstɪˌtʰu(ː)t] US
/ˈpɹɑstəˌtu(ː)t/

Where it comes from

From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).

adjective more prostitute · most prostitute

obsolete Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means. [H]e speaks a languages that merits not reply, and which can only excite contempt for his prostitute principles, or pity for his ignorance.
Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute. They rightly say that attacks against prostitute women are common and that it's only when five are murdered in one place that it starts to provoke debate.
obsolete Exposed, subjected (to something shameful). [A]nd novv at length all men of all Nations, not only Philoſophers, but even the vulgar, have, and doe ſtill deale vvith this [the subject of the book] as a matter of eaſe, expoſed and proſtitute to every Mother-vvit, and to be attained vvithout any great care or ſtudy, […]

noun prostitutes

Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
Similar: sex worker
A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood. Unfortunately, there is to my knowledge no visual evidence for the dress of the Roman prostitute, but the literary sources present us with a range of prostitute clothing (from rich accoutrements all the way down to nothing), […]
A person who does, or offers to do, a demeaning or dishonourable activity for money or personal gain; someone who acts in a dishonourable way for personal advantage. Kai Wen: Why not? You're nothing but a prostitute. / Vicky: How dare you call me a prostitute!
Similar: sellout

verb prostitutes · prostituting · prostituted

reflexive, transitive To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money. Do not prostitute thy daughter.
Similar: sell one's body, pimp
derogatory, transitive To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes. [T]heſe, their rights / In the vile ſtreets they proſtitute to ſale; / Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, / Their native glorious freedom.
Similar: sell out

Similar: turn tricks

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: bawd, whore, harlot, working girl, trollop, tart, cocotte, cyprian, fancy woman, sporting lady, prostitution, hooker, puta, skank, oppression, vice

noun

verb

Similar: turn tricks

Translations

Every language

noun a female person having sex for profit

Español	prostituta, camona, gamberra, jalona, yira, yiro
Deutsch	Prostituierte, Hure, Nutte, Dirne, Lustdirne, Buhldirne

noun a person having sex for profit

Español	prostituto
한국어	매춘부 maechunbu, 창녀 changnyeo, 갈보 galbo, 논다니 nondani, 가창 gachang
日本語	売春婦 baishunfu, 娼婦 shōfu, 街娼 gaishō
中文	妓女 jìnǚ, 妓男 jìnán, 雞 /鸡 jī, 鴨 /鸭 yā, 雞婆 /鸡婆 jīpó, 娼妓 chāngjì
हिन्दी	वेश्या veśyā, गणिका gaṇikā, पतिता patitā, कसबी kasbī, पतुरिया paturiyā, रंडी raṇḍī
Kiswahili	malaya, kahaba, changudoa, kiberenge
Português	prostituta, mulher da vida
Français	prostitué, prostituée, fille des rues, fille de joie
Deutsch	Prostituierter, Prostituierte
Italiano	prostituta, squillo, battona, puttana, baldracca, sgualdrina
Ελληνικά	πόρνη pórni
Română	prostituată, curvă, târfă
Русский	проститу́тка prostitútka, шлю́ха šljúxa, блядь bljadʹ, ку́рва kúrva
Tiếng Việt	đĩ, điếm, gái mại dâm
العربية	دَاعِرَة dāʕira, بَغِيَّة baḡiyya, عَاهِرَة ʕāhira, زَانِيَّة zāniyya, قَحْبَة qaḥba
עברית	זוֹנָה zoná, זוֹנֶה zoné

verb reflexive: to perform sexual activity for money

Español	prostituirse
中文	賣淫 /卖淫 màiyín, 賣春 /卖春 màichūn
Kiswahili	ukahaba
Português	prostituir-se
Français	se prostituer
Deutsch	sich prostituieren, anschaffen
Italiano	prostituirsi, battere il marciapiede, battere
Ελληνικά	εκπορνεύομαι ekpornévomai
Română	se prostitua
Русский	занима́ться проститу́цией zanimátʹsja prostitúcijej
العربية	دَعِرَ daʕira, بَغَى baḡā

verb to make another person, or organisation, prostitute themselves

Español	prostituir
Kiswahili	ukahaba
Português	prostituir
Deutsch	prostituieren
Ελληνικά	εκπορνεύω ekpornévo
Română	prostitua

verb derogatory: to use one's talents in return for money or fame

Español	prostituir
Português	prostituir

verb figuratively: to exploit for base purposes

Español	prostituir
Português	prostituir

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Cite this

MLA

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

APA

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

Chicago

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

BibTeX

@misc{prostitute_2026,
  title = {prostitute},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/prostitute},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}