Word Explorer

Prostitute

/ˈpɹɒstɪtjuːt/

Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Prostitute"

noun

1
Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
2
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.

verb

1
To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money.
2
To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes.

adjective

1
Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means.
2
Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute.
3
Exposed, subjected (to something shameful).

🔄 Synonyms of "Prostitute"

12 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
harlotnoun	(derogatory, offensive, dated) A female prostitute.
tartnoun	A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, now typically containing jelly (US) / jam (UK) or conserve, or sometimes other fillings (chocolate, custard, egg, butter, historically even meat or other savory fillings).
whorenoun	Synonym of prostitute: a person (especially a woman) who offers sexual services for payment.
bawdnoun	A lewd person.
trollopnoun	(derogatory) A strumpet; a whore.
cocottenoun	small casserole (pot) for individual portions, similar to a Dutch oven
working girlnoun	(idiomatic, euphemistic) A female prostitute.
fancy womannoun	an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
woman of the streetnoun	(euphemistic) A prostitute.
lady of pleasurenoun	A female prostitute or courtesan.
sporting ladynoun	(slang, archaic) Synonym of sporting girl (“female prostitute”).
cypriannoun	(Christianity) Saint Cyprian, a 3rd-century bishop of Carthage, theologian, martyr, and saint

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Prostitute"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
bawdnoun	A lewd person.
whorenoun	Synonym of prostitute: a person (especially a woman) who offers sexual services for payment.
harlotnoun	(derogatory, offensive, dated) A female prostitute.
woman of the streetnoun	(euphemistic) A prostitute.
working girlnoun	(idiomatic, euphemistic) A female prostitute.
lady of pleasurenoun	A female prostitute or courtesan.
trollopnoun	(derogatory) A strumpet; a whore.
tartnoun	A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, now typically containing jelly (US) / jam (UK) or conserve, or sometimes other fillings (chocolate, custard, egg, butter, historically even meat or other savory fillings).
cocottenoun	small casserole (pot) for individual portions, similar to a Dutch oven
cypriannoun	(Christianity) Saint Cyprian, a 3rd-century bishop of Carthage, theologian, martyr, and saint
fancy womannoun	an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
sporting ladynoun	(slang, archaic) Synonym of sporting girl (“female prostitute”).
prostitutionnoun	Engaging in sexual activity with another person for pay.
hookernoun	(US, slang) A prostitute.
putanoun	(vulgar, chiefly US Hispanic) A prostitute, whore, slut, bitch, etc.
skanknoun	(derogatory, slang) A lewd and disreputable person, often female, especially an unattractive person with an air of tawdry promiscuity.
oppressionnoun	The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
vicenoun	Bad or immoral behaviour.
courtesannoun	A female prostitute, especially one with high-status or wealthy clients.
strumpetnoun	A female prostitute.