celibate

[ sel-uh-bit, -beyt ]
/ ˈsɛl ə bɪt, -ˌbeɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR celibate ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who abstains from sexual relations.
a person who remains unmarried, especially for religious reasons.

adjective

observing or pertaining to sexual abstention or a religious vow not to marry.
not married.

Origin of celibate

1605–15; < Latin caelib- (stem of caelebs) unmarried + -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM celibate

non·cel·i·bate, adjective un·cel·i·bate, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH celibate

celebrate celibate cerebrate celibate chased chaste chest

Words nearby celibate

celiac gland, celiac plexus, celiac plexus reflex, celiac trunk, celibacy, celibate, celio-, celiocentesis, celioenterotomy, celiogastrotomy, celiomyositis

Words related to celibate

chaste, virginal, virgin, continent, pure, virtuous

Example sentences from the Web for celibate

British Dictionary definitions for celibate

celibate
/ (ˈsɛlɪbɪt) /

noun

a person who is unmarried, esp one who has taken a religious vow of chastity

adjective

unmarried, esp by vow
abstaining from sexual intercourse

Derived forms of celibate

celibacy, noun

Word Origin for celibate

C17: from Latin caelibātus, from caelebs unmarried, of obscure origin