fornicate

verb

for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating; fornicates

intransitive verb

: to commit fornication : to engage in consensual sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married
fornicator noun

Examples of fornicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Age-old paintings of satyrs bedding nymphs and mythological figures fornicating have been newly unearthed at a small house at Pompeii. Alex Greenberger For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024 Beset by pressures on all sides — complicated when Otto reported to him that Rhaenyra and Daemon were seen fornicating, for which Viserys fired Otto — Viserys banished Daemon a second time and ordered Rhaenyra to marry Laenor Velaryon, heir to the Driftwood Throne. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 June 2024 From bodily function issues and kid shenanigans to videos of terrible tattoos and people looking to fornicate with anything that has a pulse, fans serve as their own laugh track. Ali Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024 Welcome back, George Santos — or, as many began calling Donald Trump’s number two in reference to the false viral claim that Vance has fornicated with furniture, hello, Sofa Loren. Samantha Allen, Them, 12 Aug. 2024 But the series works best as an elaborate prank to make critics look silly for complaining about the lack of nuance in a cartoon about fornicating food. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 July 2024 Costner, age 69, who willed this project into being, makes sure to include a scene in which the former supermodel Lee mounts him, tells him to just lie there, and fornicates him into a good night’s sleep. EW.com, 26 June 2024 The medium is the message At its core, this is a story about the impact of surveillance capitalism – the corporate and government practice of gathering data about consumers to better understand and persuade them to buy, vote, fornicate, whatever. Giovanni René Rodriguez, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Add to that the novelty of observing this (imaginary) nomadic species forage, feed, fart and fornicate in their natural habitat for a year without uttering a single word. Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin fornicātus, past participle of fornicāre "to consort with women who provide sex for money," derivative of Latin fornic-, fornix "arch, vault, vaulted chamber used as a brothel" — more at fornix

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fornicate was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near fornicate

Cite this Entry

“Fornicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornicate. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fornicate

verb
for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating
: to commit fornication
fornicator noun

Medical Definition

fornicate

verb
for·​ni·​cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce fornicate (audio)
fornicated; fornicating

intransitive verb

: to commit fornication : to engage in consensual sexual intercourse with someone to whom one is not married
fornicator noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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