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prostitute Definition

pros·ti·tute (präs′tə to̵̅o̅t′, -tyo̵̅o̅t′)

transitive verb -·tut′ed, -·tut′·ing

  1. to sell the services of (oneself or another) for purposes of sexual intercourse
  2. to sell (oneself, one's artistic or moral integrity,etc.) for low or unworthy purposes

Etymology: < L prostitutus, pp. of prostituere < pro-, before + statuere, to cause to stand, akin to stare, stand

adjective

Rare given over to base purposes; debased; corrupt

noun

    1. a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual activity for pay; whore; harlot
    2. a man who engages in such activity, esp. homosexual acts, for pay
  2. a person, as a writer, artist, etc., who sells his or her services for low or unworthy purposes

prostitute Related Forms
pros′·ti·tu′·tor noun
prostitute Synonyms

prostitute

n.

whore, call girl, hustler, harlot, strumpet, lewd woman, bawd, streetwalker, loose woman, fallen woman, courtesan, abandoned woman, concubine, vice girl, fille de joie (French), tramp, slut, lady of assignation, tart*, hooker*, lady of the evening*, bimbo*, pro*, white slave*, poule (French)*; see also criminal.

prostitute Usage Examples

Object

  • woman: The majority of prostituted women working in the red light district of Amsterdam do not sexually service men out of free choice.

Converse of object

  • marry: In 1943 agents kept tabs on him after he married a prostitute who leaked " sensitive " information to her mother in Ireland.
  • murder: The Ripper murdered five prostitutes within 10 weeks in the autumn of 1888.
  • hire: Soon the drug and booze fuelled night turns wild as they hire a prostitute to join in the fun.
  • arrest: One law passed in 1305 allowed the University of Oxford to arrest prostitutes attempting to ply their trade to students.
  • kill: Alfie Bain from Grenada, West Indies, was convicted of killing a prostitute in 1970.
  • become: Susie agrees to become a prostitute to help Donna pay back the money she owes Des for drugs.

Adjective modifier

  • high-class: The Empire auditorium featured a famous promenade, where high-class prostitutes picked up their clients.
  • male: A young male prostitute was subsequently arrested for his murder.
  • teenage: One of the most shaming and highly visible failures of this philosophy is the seemingly endless supply of teenage prostitutes of both sexes.
  • female: There is also a needle exchange that operates out of Base 75, a service offered to female prostitutes.
  • part-time: Possibly Louis Armstrong was illegitimate, it is quite clear that his mother was a part-time prostitute.
  • former: Former Prostitute who gave evidence in Jeffrey Archer libel trial 15 years ago killed in collision with alleged robber in stolen car.

Modifies a noun

  • card: Prostitute card numbers barred by land line operators... mobiles to follow?

Noun used with modifier

  • transsexual: They do not find La Tenia, however, rather the transsexual prostitute who was with him.
  • temple: Pagan worship at this time involved sex with a temple prostitute in order to ensure a good harvest.
  • street: In a fateful moment, Manny takes Virgil to visit the local street prostitutes.
  • child: Conrad has recently been involved with surveillance at brothels where there are child prostitutes.
  • class: I had always thought Geisha was a sort of high class prostitute.

Possessives

  • card: Prostitutes ' cards, an old book that was popular in its day, color supplements, postcards.
prostitute Quotes

It is frivolous stuff, and how rare, how precious is frivolity! How few writers can prostitute all their powers! Theyare always implying 'I am capable of higher things.'

—Forster, E(dward) M(organ)