prostitute

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

• (Received Pronunciation, without the yod-coalescence) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒstɪˌtjuːt/, [ˈpɹɒstɪtʰjuːt]
  • (yod-coalescence) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt/, [ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt]
• (General American, without weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑstɪˌtu(ː)t/, [ˈpɹɑstɪˌtʰu(ː)t]
  • (weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑstəˌtu(ː)t/

    • Audio (US):

      (file)

• Hyphenation: pros‧ti‧tute

prostitute (comparative more prostitute, superlative most prostitute)

1. (obsolete) Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means. [16th–19th c.]
   • 1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of Man:

     [H]e speaks a languages that merits not reply, and which can only excite contempt for his prostitute principles, or pity for his ignorance.

2. Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute. [from 16th c.]
   • 2008, Niki Adams, Lisa Longstaff, The Guardian, letters, 23 February:

     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.

3. (obsolete) Exposed, subjected (to something shameful). [16th–18th c.]
   • 1651, Tho[mas] Hobbes, “The Authors Preface to the Reader.”, in Philosophicall Rudiments Concerning Government and Society. […], London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond] for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC:

     [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, […]

prostitute (plural prostitutes)

1. Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood. [from 18th c.]

   Synonyms: sex worker; see also Thesaurus:prostitute

   Hyponyms: see Thesaurus:prostitute

2. A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood. [from 17th c.]
   • 2012, Kelly Olson, Dress and the Roman Woman: Self-Presentation and Society, page 50:

     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), […]

3. 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. [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: sellout

   • 2013, Unknown, “Gang Clash resulting in the stabbing of one person”, in Crimewatch (Singaporean TV series)‎^[1], season 27, episode 3, spoken by Kai Wen and Vicky (Jernelle Oh and Shanice Koh):

     Kai Wen: Why not? You're nothing but a prostitute. / Vicky: How dare you call me a prostitute!

   • 2019 May 18, Jack Shepherd, quoting Bobby Gillespie, “Primal Scream frontman calls Madonna a 'total prostitute' for performing at Eurovision in Israel”, in The Independent‎^[2]:

     Madonna would do anything for money, you know, she's a total prostitute. And I've got nothing against prostitutes.

• Some speakers consider prostitutes (sex workers) to be female by default, and thus use male prostitute to refer to a male performing the same job.

• Thesaurus:prostitute

prostitute (third-person singular simple present prostitutes, present participle prostituting, simple past and past participle prostituted)

1. (transitive, reflexive) To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money. [from 16th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus xix:29:

     Do not prostitute thy daughter.

2. (transitive, derogatory) To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes.
   • 1740, John Dyer, “The Ruins of Rome. A Poem.”, in Poems. [...] Viz. I. Grongar Hill. II. The Ruins of Rome. III. The Fleece, in Four Books, London: Printed by John Hughs, for Messrs. R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1759, →OCLC, pages 42–43:

     [T]heſe, their rights / In the vile ſtreets they proſtitute to ſale; / Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, / Their native glorious freedom.

• (to offer oneself for sexual activity for money): sell one's body, turn tricks; see also Thesaurus:prostitute oneself
• (to offer another person for sexual activity for money): pimp; see also Thesaurus:pimp out
• (to use one's talents for money): sell out

• prostitution

prostitute

1. plural of prostituut

• IPA^(key): /pros.tiˈtu.te/
• Rhymes: -ute
• Hyphenation: pro‧sti‧tù‧te

prostitute f

1. plural of prostituta

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [proːs.tɪˈtuː.tɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [pros.tiˈtuː.te]

prōstitūte

1. vocative masculine singular of prōstitūtus