celibate

[ sel-uh-bit, -beyt ]
See synonyms for celibate on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who abstains from sexual relations.

  2. a person who remains unmarried, especially for religious reasons.

adjective
  1. observing or pertaining to sexual abstention or a religious vow not to marry.

  2. not married.

Origin of celibate

1
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin caelib- (stem of caelebs ) “unmarried” + -ate1

Other words from celibate

  • non·cel·i·bate, adjective
  • un·cel·i·bate, adjective

Words that may be confused with celibate

Words Nearby celibate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use celibate in a sentence

  • I used to believe that there was benefit to health and increase of power, whether physical or mental, in the celibate life.

  • This glimmer of wonder and envy, the revelation of a life intensely celibate, was for an instant infinitely touching.

    The Tragic Muse | Henry James
  • And besides they tend to the extinction of the human species by reason of their monastic and celibate ideal.

  • It goes without saying that this remarkable man was a High Churchman and a celibate.

    Witching Hill | E. W. Hornung
  • "It would bring a little colour into one's life," said Eric, looking with disfavour at the grimly celibate sitting-room.

    Lady Lilith | Stephen McKenna

British Dictionary definitions for celibate

celibate

/ (ˈsɛlɪbɪt) /


noun
  1. a person who is unmarried, esp one who has taken a religious vow of chastity

adjective
  1. unmarried, esp by vow

  2. abstaining from sexual intercourse

Origin of celibate

1
C17: from Latin caelibātus, from caelebs unmarried, of obscure origin

Derived forms of celibate

  • celibacy, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012