Meaning & use
celibate
Last updated
Abstaining from sexual activity, or, especially in religious contexts, from marriage.
See it in a sentence
Catholic priests take a vow to remain celibate.
He decided to stay celibate for a year to focus on his personal growth.
A note on using this word
Often confused with "abstinent," which is broader and can apply to avoiding anything, such as alcohol; "celibate" specifically concerns sexual activity or marriage.
Words with a similar meaning
chasteabstinent
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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