# prostitute

/ˈpɹɑstəˌtut/ (US) · /pɹˈɒstɪtjˌuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prostitute
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. sex worker

noun · CEFR B2

a person who receives money in exchange for sexual activity.

For teachers: a person who engages in sexual intercourse or other sexual acts for financial compensation.

- The city is looking for new ways to protect prostitutes from violence on the streets.
- Sociologists have long debated the economic and social factors that drive individuals to work as prostitutes in urban environments.

### 2. metaphorical use

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who gives up their principles or does something dishonest just to make money.

For teachers: a person who sacrifices their integrity, artistic talent, or principles for personal gain or financial profit.

- He felt like a prostitute for writing advertisements for a company he hated.
- The critic accused the novelist of being a literary prostitute for abandoning his unique style to write predictable bestsellers.

### 3. to sell sex

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to offer yourself or another person for sex in exchange for money.

For teachers: to offer oneself or another for sexual activity in exchange for payment. Often used reflexively or transitively.

- The desperate character in the book was forced to prostitute herself to survive.
- The investigation uncovered a criminal network that forced vulnerable migrants to prostitute themselves in various cities across the country.

Usage: Often used in the form 'to prostitute oneself'.

### 4. to misuse talent

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to use your skills or beliefs in a bad way just to get money or an advantage.

For teachers: to debase or misuse one's talents, skills, or principles for unworthy purposes or financial gain.

- She refused to prostitute her artistic talents by painting cheap souvenirs.
- The senator was accused of prostituting his high office to serve the interests of wealthy corporate donors.

## Examples

- The law regulates how the city treats a prostitute.
- Historical records from the port city show that a prostitute could earn more than a common laborer during the gold rush.
- The documentary explores the complex social factors that might lead an individual to work as a prostitute, focusing on economic necessity and the lack of social safety nets.

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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.