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Definition of adulteress

adulteress

/əˈdʌl.tə.ɹəs/
a · dul · ter · ess
Adverb:adulterously
•
Plural:adulteresses
•
Adjective:adulterous
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adulteress Lexical Profile

adulteress Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A woman who commits adultery by engaging in voluntary sexual intercourse with someone other than her lawful spouse, or with a married person.

Example

"In Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel, the protagonist is publicly shamed and labeled an adulteress by the strict Puritan community."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for adulteress

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary usage, this gender-specific noun is largely restricted to historical, literary, or religious contexts, with 'adulterer' or 'unfaithful partner' preferred as gender-neutral terms.

• Rhymes for adulteress

• Nearby Words

adulterant
adulteration
adulterer
adulteress
adulterous
adultery
adulthood

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the stem of 'adulterer' (ultimately from Latin adulterare, meaning 'to corrupt' or 'to defile') combined with the feminine suffix '-ess'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Adulteress. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/adulteress
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