prostitution

noun

pros·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌprä-stə-ˈtü-shən 

-ˈtyü-

1

sometimes offensive; see usage paragraph below : the act or practice of engaging in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : sex work

2

: the state of being involved in or devoted to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debasement

You see, for Michelangelo, painting was only a day job—one he felt was a prostitution of his artistic talent. His passion was sculpture.

—Karen Wall Garrison

Usage of Prostitute and Prostitution

The words prostitute and prostitution in their senses relating to sex work are now increasingly rejected as offensive.

"… the word 'prostitute' itself has very much fallen out of favor. Very few people who are engaged in sex work describe themselves as prostitutes outside their own communities, and in some circles the word prostitute is considered a derogatory term. …"

—Melissa Gira Grant, quoted at Vox.com, 11 Aug. 2014

These days Marie prefers to use the term escort when describing what her mother does, and dislikes the word prostitute for its "negative connotations".

—Chloe Morgan, MailOnline, 30 Nov. 2020

"Some sex workers find the term 'prostitute' offensive because of the intense stigma and baggage that goes with it. I feel that for me it's important to take back that name in order to fight the stigma. …"

—unidentified sex worker, quoted in Tucson (Arizona) Weekly, 6 Oct. 2016

Labor member Irene Pnevmatikos told Parliament that the terms "prostitution" and "prostitute" had negative connotations. "Sex worker groups in Australia reject the word prostitute and have done so since the 1970s," Ms Pnevmatikos said.

—Casey Briggs, ABC Premium News (Australia), 20 June 2019

Because of the degrading history of the term "prostitution," I confine my use of the word to two scenarios: when it is used in a direct quotation, and when I am referring to the laws themselves that are so titled.

—Mary Felder, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1 Jan. 2021

When used in contexts relating to victimization especially of children, the words have also been criticized as mischaracterizing sexual exploitation.

The term "child prostitution" is being removed from official statistics over concerns it is an outdated phrase that encourages "victim-blaming".

—Belfast (Northern Ireland) Telegraph Online, 7 Mar. 2016

I, with the Human Rights Project for Girls, understand it is the media's job to convey a situation or an issue with precision and clarity. "Child prostitute" may seem clear because it conveys the fact that money is exchanged for sex, but it is also misleading because it suggests consent and criminality when none exists.

—Withelma "T" Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, Change.org, 2016

"It comes back to the word prostitute … and it is biasing our laws when the act would be considered statutory rape because it involves a child if no money were exchanged," said Linda Smith, who founded Shared Hope in the late 1990s after serving in the U.S. Congress for Washington state for four years.

—James Pilcher, Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette, 24 Nov. 2019

Synonyms

• harlotry
• vice
• whoredom

Examples of prostitution in a Sentence

She was arrested for prostitution.

Writing commercials was a prostitution of his talents.

Recent Examples on the Web

The men face charges of solicitation of prostitution, a felony in Texas punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. —Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 5 Apr. 2023

Street prostitution has been an issue on Capp Street in the Mission District for decades. —Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Feb. 2023

In Texas, the solicitation of prostitution is considered a felony and is punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. —Sarah Rumpf, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2023

Some of the acts of prostitution were carried out in Nesbitt’s condominium building in the 2400 block of West Augusta Boulevard. —Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prostitution

• anti-prostitution

Kids Definition

prostitution

noun

pros·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌpräs-tə-ˈt(y)ü-shən 

1

: the acts or practices of a prostitute

2

: the state of being prostituted

Legal Definition

prostitution

noun

pros·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌpräs-tə-ˈtü-shən, -ˈtyü- 

: the act or practice of engaging in sexual activity indiscriminately especially for money

also : the crime of engaging in such activity