prostitute
prostitute Lexical Profile
prostitute Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who engages in sexual activity with others in exchange for payment.
"The municipal clinic provides confidential healthcare services to vulnerable populations, including street-level prostitutes."
A person who willingly debases or compromises their artistic, intellectual, or moral integrity for financial gain or personal advancement.
"Critics accused the once-independent journalist of becoming a corporate prostitute after he wrote several paid promotional articles."
• verb
To offer (oneself or another person) for sexual activity in exchange for money.
"The investigation revealed that a criminal syndicate had been forcing trafficking victims to prostitute themselves."
To put (one's talent, reputation, or principles) to an unworthy or corrupt use for the sake of financial or personal gain.
"The composer refused to prostitute his artistic vision by writing superficial jingles for commercial advertisements."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary public health, human rights, and academic contexts, the term 'sex worker' is often preferred over 'prostitute' to avoid social stigma and emphasize labor rights.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin 'prostitutus', the past participle of 'prostituere' ('to expose publicly' or 'to offer for sale'), formed from 'pro-' ('before' or 'forth') and 'statuere' ('to cause to stand' or 'to place').