prostitute

UK: /ˈprɒstɪtjuːt/

US: /ˈprɑstɪˌtut, -ˌtjut/

US: (pros′ti to̅o̅t′, -tyo̅o̅t′)

Inflections of 'prostitute' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

prostitutes

v 3rd person singular

prostituting

v pres p

prostituted

v past

prostituted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•ti•tute /ˈprɑstɪˌtut, -ˌtyut/   n., v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a woman or man who engages in sexual acts for money.

v. 

2. [~ + oneself] to sell or offer (oneself ) as a prostitute.
3. to put to a use that is unworthy or dishonorable, esp. for money: [~ + object]
   He prostituted his talents.
   [~ + oneself]
   a writer who felt he prostituted himself, writing pornography.

See -stit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•ti•tute  (pros′ti to̅o̅t′, -tyo̅o̅t′), n., v., -tut•ed, -tut•ing. 
n. 

1. a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money;
   whore;
   harlot.
2. a man who engages in sexual acts for money.
3. a person who willingly uses his or her talent or ability in a base and unworthy way, usually for money.

v.t. 

4. to sell or offer (oneself ) as a prostitute.
5. to put to any base or unworthy use:
   to prostitute one's talents.

• Latin prōstitūta, noun, nominal use of feminine of prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituere to expose (for sale), equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + -stitū-, combining form of variant stem of statuere to cause to stand + -tus past participle suffix; see status
• 1520–30

pros′ti•tu′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. call girl, streetwalker, courtesan; trollop, strumpet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prostitute / ˈprɒstɪˌtjuːt/ noun

1. a person who engages in sexual activity for money
2. a person who offers his or her talent or work for unworthy purposes

verb (transitive)

1. to offer (oneself or another) in sexual activity for money
2. to offer (a person, esp oneself, or a person's talent) for unworthy purposes

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin prōstituere to expose to prostitution, from prō- in public + statuere to cause to stand

ˌprostiˈtution noun

ˈprostiˌtutor noun

USAGE
The term prostitute in sense 1 and its derived noun, prostitution, are considered to have inappropriate and negative connotations. The terms sex worker and sex work are preferred