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
Karen Wall Garrison
Usage of Prostitute
The terms sex worker and sex work are now preferred to prostitute and prostitution, which are increasingly rejected as offensive. Additionally, prostitute and prostitution are avoided in contexts relating to victimization especially of children because the words there are seen as an egregious mischaracterization of exploitation.
Synonyms of prostitution
Examples of prostitution in a Sentence
She was arrested for prostitution.
Writing commercials was a prostitution of his talents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Combs was sentenced to four years in prison and a $500,000 fine after a jury convicted him of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
The 56-year-old is currently serving a 50-month sentence at Fort Dix, a low-security federal facility in New Jersey, after he was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was found guilty by a jury on July 2, on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
—Reuters, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Epstein, whose relationship with bin Sulayem began before the financier’s arrest in Florida in 2008 on the prostitution charges, met and corresponded with the Emirati for more than a decade.
—Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
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Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
The 56-year-old is currently serving a 50-month sentence at Fort Dix, a low-security federal facility in New Jersey, after he was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was found guilty by a jury on July 2, on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
—Reuters, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Epstein, whose relationship with bin Sulayem began before the financier’s arrest in Florida in 2008 on the prostitution charges, met and corresponded with the Emirati for more than a decade.
—Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prostitution
Cite this Entry
“Prostitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostitution. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
