world's oldest profession

noun

Phrases

the world's oldest profession

humorous

: the occupation of engaging in sex work

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of world's oldest profession was in 1908

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Entries

World's Fair plant

world's oldest profession

world's people

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“World's oldest profession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/world%27s%20oldest%20profession. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

Popular Features

world's oldest profession

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

cryptic

Popular in Grammar & Usage