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Meaning & use

licentious

adjective·Advancedformaldisapproving

Last updated

UK/laɪˈsenʃəs/
US/laɪˈsenʃəs/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableformaldisapproving

    Lacking moral restraint, especially in sexual behavior, in a way that others strongly disapprove of.

    Grammar: Appears before a noun or after be: licentious behavior.

    Patterns

    • a licentious person
    • licentious behavior

    Critics condemned the licentious behavior of the royal court.

    The preacher warned against a licentious lifestyle.

    The novel was banned for its licentious scenes.

  2. adjectivecomparableliterarydisapproving

    Ignoring rules or accepted standards in a reckless, undisciplined way.

    Grammar: Literary; often in discussion of art or society.

    Patterns

    • a licentious age

    Moralists called the party a licentious waste of money.

    The poet defended his licentious use of grammar.

    The city had a reputation for licentious freedom.

Common combinations

licentious behavior
The memoir described the licentious behavior of the aristocracy.
licentious lifestyle
He gave up his licentious lifestyle after the scandal.
licentious conduct
The headmaster punished licentious conduct among older pupils.
a licentious age
Historians often call the era a licentious age.
licentious reputation
The resort earned a licentious reputation.

Synonyms and how they differ

immoral
Immoral is a broad word for wrong behavior, but licentious usually points to sexual excess.
promiscuous
Promiscuous refers specifically to having many casual partners, whereas licentious is judgmental about overall morals.
debauched
Debauched suggests damage from heavy indulgence in drink and pleasure, and is stronger than licentious.
dissolute
Dissolute focuses on a lazy, wasted life, more than on sex alone.

Opposites

chastevirtuous

Word family

licentiousness noun
the state of being licentious
licentiously adverb
in an immoral, unrestrained way
license noun
official permission, from the same Latin root
licence noun
the British spelling of license as a noun

Commonly confused: licentious or lascivious?

licentious vs lascivious

Lascivious means openly showing sexual desire, while licentious describes a lack of moral limits more widely.

Practice

The critic called the film licentious, meaning that it was ___ .

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