chastity

noun

chas·​ti·​ty ˈcha-stə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being chaste: such as

a

: abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse

b

: abstention from all sexual intercourse

The priest took a vow of chastity.

c

: purity in conduct and intention

sought to protect her threatened chastity

d

: restraint and simplicity in design or expression

… describes the familiar campaigns with an admirable chastity of diction.

—Richard Brookhiser

2

: personal integrity

Synonyms

• chasteness
• immaculacy
• innocence
• modesty
• purity

Examples of chastity in a Sentence

a saint who is often held up as a model of chastity

vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

Recent Examples on the Web

The anti-erotic Christianity that Monica professed condemned the vanity of human learning and encouraged chastity. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024

Origin: Irish Meaning: From the lake Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lin, Lynne Artemis An unforgettable baby name, Artemis is derived from the Greek goddess of the moon, hunting, and chastity. —Taylor Grothe, Parents, 20 Sep. 2024

Monasteries of childless women as well as of childless men followed this rule, pledging themselves to chastity as well as poverty and obedience. —Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 30 July 2024

Previously, celibacy was often intertwined with religious ideas of purity and chastity, but for women today the concept is much wider and the reasons behind it more varied. —Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chastete, chastite, borrowed from Anglo-French casthetet, chasteté, borrowed from Latin castitāt-, castitās, from castus "free from, free from vice, chaste" + -itāt-, -itās

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chastity

• chastity belt
• vow of chastity

Kids Definition

chastity

noun

chas·​ti·​ty ˈchas-tət-ē 

: the quality or state of being chaste