English Explanatory Dictionary

celibate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Not married.
  2. Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.
noun
  1. One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community.
verb
  1. To practice celibacy.
noun
  1. A celibate state; celibacy.

Pronunciation

/ˈsɛləbət/ En-ca-celibate.oga

Word forms

celibate cælibate cœlibate celibates celibating celibated

Etymology

Probably from the noun (“celibacy”) or from celibacy on the model of privacy/private, etc. Alternatively, from Latin caelebs (“single”) + -ate.

Synonyms

unmarried single abstinent chaste pure celibate celibatist volcel cel

Antonyms

copulator libertine sexual partner person

Related words

celibacy virgin bachelor friar monk nun

Derived words

celibatarian celibately celibatist incelibate noncelibate
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