# fornication

/fˌɔːnɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fornication
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other. It is often used in religious or legal contexts to describe this act as a sin or a crime.

For teachers: sexual intercourse between individuals who are not married to each other. Historically used in legal and ecclesiastical contexts to describe the act as a moral or criminal offense.

## Examples

- The law once punished fornication with heavy fines.
- In many historical societies, fornication was considered a serious offense that required public penance or legal intervention.
- The shift in social attitudes toward premarital sex has rendered the term fornication largely obsolete in modern secular discourse, though it remains a significant theological concept in certain religious traditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.