prostitution

UK/ˌprɒstɪˈt͡ʃuːʃn/US/ˌprɒstɪˈt͡ʃuːʃn/

nounB2+Common in everyday speech and writing · #5,430 of 15,258neutral

Prostitution is the selling of sexual services. Laws on prostitution, forced into prostitution, decriminalise prostitution.

The law differs enormously between countries — some ban it, some ban only buying, some regulate it, some leave it alone — and which model reduces harm is genuinely disputed. Sex work is the term preferred by most of the people who do it.

Definitions of prostitution

1nounprostitutionThe selling of sexual services.B2+
“Many of the women had been forced into prostitution by criminal gangs.”

prostitution is a trade.

Where it comes from

Latin prostitutio comes from prostituere, to offer for sale — pro, before, plus statuere, to place.

Latin
prostitutio
English, today
prostitution

From Latin prostitutio. Equivalent to prostitute + ion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

prostitution in the wild

However, in practice, enforcement varies, and child prostitution occurs freely in some regions due to systemic issues such as corruption or inadequate legal protections.
Sex tourism
Sex work in a brothel is considered safer than street prostitution.
Brothel
Child prostitution is prostitution involving a child, and it is a form of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Child prostitution
The term normally refers to prostitution of a minor, or person under the legal age of consent.
Child prostitution
In June of that year, the Foshan Court determined that the sale of erotic massage is not the same as prostitution.
Prostitution in China

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

prostitute

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