prostitute
gb/pɹˈɑstətˌut/ us/pɹˈɑstətˌut/
B2
Anglais
~ 9000
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B2
entity
1
person who sells sex
A person who has sex with people for money, usually as their job.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is a prostitute
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes call any sexually active or unfaithful person a "prostitute" as an insult. This is incorrect and offensive; the word refers specifically to people who have sex for money. Learners may also not realize that many speakers prefer the term "sex worker" as it is seen as more respectful and less judgmental.
Synonymes
sex worker (More modern and neutral; often preferred in respectful or professional discussions and can include people who do erotic work without intercourse.)
Antonymes
celibate (Refers to someone who chooses not to have sexual activity at all, which is the opposite of someone who sells sexual activity.)
Collocations
street prostitute
|male prostitute
|female prostitute
|child prostitute
|hire a prostitute
|a former prostitute
Thèmes
society
|relationships
|law
|health
Exemples
- The police said the man had been paying a prostitute for years.
- She spoke openly about her past as a prostitute and how she left the sex trade.
- The documentary follows the daily life of a street prostitute in the city center.
- Laws about how to treat and protect prostitutes are changing in many countries.
- He was arrested for trying to hire a prostitute outside the nightclub.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The man paid a prostitute for sex.
- She used to work as a prostitute when she was young.
- The city has a support group for prostitutes.
- He was caught trying to hire a prostitute.
- Some people say the word "prostitute" is rude, and they use "sex worker" instead.
Verbe
C1
action
2
work as a prostitute
To have sex with people for money as your work, often said as "prostitute yourself".
Schéma d’usage :
to prostitute [oneself]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this verb with the noun and say "She is prostituting" instead of the more natural "She is prostituting herself." They may also confuse it with the different verb "prosecute," which means to bring someone to court.
Synonymes
sell sex (Plain, descriptive phrase that directly states the action without using the specific job title.)
Antonymes
remain celibate (Means choosing not to have sex at all, which contrasts with having sex for money.)
Collocations
prostitute herself
|prostituted himself
|forced to prostitute herself
|prostituted women
|prostituted children
Thèmes
society
|law
|health
|work
Exemples
- She felt she had no choice but to prostitute herself to pay for her studies.
- The gang forced several girls to prostitute themselves in foreign countries.
- He admitted that he had prostituted himself during a very difficult period of his life.
- The report describes how poor women are pressured to prostitute themselves to survive.
- They rescued minors who had been prostituted by criminal networks.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She decided to prostitute herself to earn money.
- The man forced the woman to prostitute herself.
- The girl was afraid she would have to prostitute herself to survive.
- He said he had prostituted himself when he was very poor.
- The police helped children who were being prostituted by criminals.
Verbe
formal
C1
action
3
use talents in degrading way
To use your skills or beliefs in a bad or low way just to get money or power.
Schéma d’usage :
to prostitute [one’s talents/principles/work]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may think this meaning is still about sex because of the strong word. In this figurative use, it has nothing to do with sex but with lowering your standards for money or advantage. It is formal and often used in criticism, so it should be used carefully.
Synonymes
debase (Focuses on lowering the quality or value of something, not always for money.)
Antonymes
uphold (Means to keep or defend standards or principles instead of lowering them for gain.)
Collocations
prostitute his talents
|prostituted her art
|prostitute their principles
|prostitute his skills
|prostituted their ideals
Thèmes
work
|morality
|art
|business
Exemples
- He refused to prostitute his talents by writing ads he did not believe in.
- Critics accused the artist of prostituting her art for commercial success.
- The journalist said he would not prostitute his principles for access to powerful people.
- They believe the organization has prostituted its ideals to attract more sponsors.
- Some academics feel pressured to prostitute their research in order to secure funding.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He did not want to prostitute his talents just to make easy money.
- The writer refused to prostitute her art for a big company.
- They say the party has prostituted its principles to win votes.
- She felt she was prostituting her skills by working on cheap ads.
- He does not want to prostitute his ideas for fame.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
prostitute
API
GB/pɹˈɑstətˌut/
US/pɹˈɑstətˌut/
Syllabes et accentuation
pros - ti - tute (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (pros)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: prostitute
- Plural: prostitutes
Verb
- Base: prostitute
- 3rd Person Singular: prostitutes
- Present Participle: prostituting
- Past: prostituted
Famille de mots
Forms
prostitutes
noun
prostituting
verb
prostituted
verb
Core family
prostitution
noun C1
Expressions
child prostitute
1/t͡ʃˈaɪld pɹˈɑstətˌut/
fixed phrase
child who sells sex
A child who is used to have sex with people for money, usually controlled or forced by adults.
Exemples
- Organizations are working to protect child prostitutes and punish those who exploit them.
- The report showed a shocking rise in the number of child prostitutes in the region.
male prostitute
1/mˈeɪl pɹˈɑstətˌut/
fixed phrase
man who sells sex
A man who has sex with people for money, usually as his job.
Exemples
- The film follows a young male prostitute living in a big city.
- Police said the victim had worked as a male prostitute.
prostitute oneself
1/pɹˈɑstətˌut wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
have sex for money yourself
To have sex with other people for money, talking about yourself or another person as the one who does it.
Exemples
- She felt she had no option but to prostitute herself to pay the rent.
- He never imagined he would have to prostitute himself to survive in the new city.
prostitute one’s talents
1/pɹˈɑstətˌut wˈʌnz tˈælənts/
fixed phrase
formal
use one’s skills in low way
To use your skills or gifts in a low or bad way just to get money or success.
Exemples
- She did not want to prostitute her talents by working on misleading political ads.
- Some musicians feel they are prostituting their talents when they make songs only for commercials.
street prostitute
1/stɹˈit pɹˈɑstətˌut/
fixed phrase
prostitute working on streets
A prostitute who looks for customers outside on the street, not in a club or online.
Exemples
- The area is known as a place where street prostitutes look for clients at night.
- New laws are meant to improve safety for street prostitutes.