unchaste

Unchaste is most commonly used to describe someone or something considered sexually immoral, especially according to the teachings of a certain religion.

It can also be used in a more general way to mean morally impure.

The opposite is chaste, which is most commonly used to describe someone who refrains from sexual activity that’s considered immoral.

Example: When I went to Catholic high school, my religion teachers always emphasized the dangers of being unchaste.

The first records of the word unchaste come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin castus, meaning “pure.” The word caste comes from the same root. The prefix un- means “not.”

Whether someone is considered morally pure or chaste heavily depends on cultural and religious norms, and the idea of chastity may differ from one religion to another or one person to another. In Christianity, the word unchaste is typically used to describe those who engage in sexual activity outside of marriage or sexual activity without the goal of reproduction. Describing someone as unchaste is a moral judgment, and the person may take offense to this, especially if they don’t believe in the same set of morals. In many religions, the promotion of chastity has traditionally been directed more toward women, leading some people to criticize such lessons as sexist or oppressive.

What are some other forms related to unchaste?

• unchastely (adverb)
• unchasteness (noun)
• unchastity (noun)
• chaste (adjective)

What are some synonyms for unchaste?

• impure

What are some words that share a root or word element with unchaste? 

• chastity
• caste

What are some words that often get used in discussing unchaste?

• immoral
• sex
• virginity 
• marriage
• sin

The word unchaste is usually used in the context of religion, or in the criticism of religious teaching about such things.

So far, you’ve called me (a 33 year old Roman Catholic virgin, chastity speaker, and chastity author) vulgar, unchaste, and now, unChristian—please, tell me more. What about me says “vulgar, unchaste, unChristian”?

— Arleen Spenceley (@ArleenSpenceley) April 29, 2019

Am I the only one annoyed that the Catholic Blogosphere tends to portray men as unchaste pigs as a way of reminding women of their dignity?

— Tommy Tighe (@theghissilent) December 31, 2015