Word
celibacy
Phoneticsceliba·cy
US/ˈsɛɫəbəsi/
UK/sˈɛlɪbəsi/
Definition
n. the state of not having any sexual relationships. It is often a choice made by people for religious, personal, or health reasons.
n. the state of abstaining from sexual relations, typically for religious, moral, or health reasons.
Examples
“He chose celibacy to focus on his spiritual life.”
“The religious order requires its members to maintain celibacy as part of their commitment to the community.”
“The debate over mandatory celibacy in certain professional environments often centers on the balance between personal autonomy and the prevention of potential conflicts of interest.”
Examples
simple
“He chose celibacy to focus on his spiritual life.”
contextual
“The religious order requires its members to maintain celibacy as part of their commitment to the community.”
complex
“The debate over mandatory celibacy in certain professional environments often centers on the balance between personal autonomy and the prevention of potential conflicts of interest.”
Real-World Examples
“In Thailand, Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy and also renounce material possessions.” “Thai Buddhists felt disappointed and raised questions about the ability of young monks to take their vow of celibacy seriously.” Etymology
From Latin caelibātus (“celibacy, a single life”), from caelebs (“unmarried”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/celibacy