Prostitute Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Prostitute, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Prostitute?

Person who sells themselves for an unworthy cause. Generally it refers to woman who is paid for having sex with the men and who has actually accepted this as profession. Sometimes even males who are homosexual and who offers to have sex with other males as profession is known to be a prostitute.

History and Meaning of Prostitute

The word "prostitute" comes from the Latin word "prostituere" which means "to expose publicly" or "to place in front of, to offer". Prostitution is one of the world's oldest professions, dating back to ancient times. In many ancient societies, prostitution was an accepted and even respected profession, with some prostitutes even having religious significance. However, in modern times, prostitution is widely regarded as a form of exploitation and many countries have laws against it.

Examples of Prostitute

  1. After losing her job and struggling to make ends meet, Sarah turned to prostitution to pay her bills.
  2. The police arrested several prostitutes during a sting operation.
  3. The documentary shed light on the growing problem of child prostitution in Southeast Asia.

Legal Terms Similar to Prostitute

  1. Solicitation - the act of soliciting or seeking to obtain something, typically sex, in an illegal or immoral way
  2. Human trafficking - the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation
  3. Pandering - the act of procuring a prostitute for someone else or operating a prostitution business.