A person who engages in sexual activity for payment; in common usage it can refer to a sex worker (noun, sometimes pejorative) or, historically, to someone who offers sexual services in exchange for money. It denotes the profession or act, rather than implying value judgments about the individuals involved. Context determines tone and acceptability in discourse.
"The film sparked debate about whether society should criminalize prostitution."
"She decided to write a thesis exploring the history and economics of prostitution."
"Some argue for decriminalizing prostitution to protect workers’ rights."
"The street vendor rejected the accusation and denied being a prostitute."
Prostitute comes from Latin prostitutus, the perfect passive participle of prodere, meaning to expose or to betray, with the sense of “exposed publicly.” The Latin term prostitutus originally described someone exposed or offered publicly for sexual services, and it carried social stigma. In medieval Latin, prostitutus surfaced as a loanword into Old French as prostitut and later into Middle English as prostitut or prostitut, retaining sexual commerce implications. The word shifted in English by the 16th century to denote a person who sells sexual services. Over time, “prostitute” acquired broader social, legal, and moral overtones, often reflecting societal attitudes toward sex work. The modern English usage remains primarily as a noun for the person or infrequently as a verb (“to prostitute oneself”). The term’s frequency and connotations vary across cultures and legal frameworks, influencing how it is perceived and discussed in public discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Prostitute" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Prostitute" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Prostitute"
-ute sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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/ˈproʊ.stɪ.tjuːt/ in US English, with three syllables: PRO-sti-tute; primary stress on the first syllable. In careful speech you’ll release the final -tute as -tyoo-t, sounding like tuh-yoot. UK pronunciation shifts to /ˈprɒs.tɪ.tjuːt/ or /ˈprɒs.tɪ.tʃuːt/ with a shorter first vowel; Australian often mirrors US quality: /ˈprɒs.tɪ.tjuːt/. Pay attention to the initial “pro-” as a closed back vowel in many accents and a crisp, unreleased final consonant cluster in fast speech.
Two common missteps: (1) Slurring the second syllable so it sounds like PRO-zet, losing the /stɪ/ clarity; keep /stɪ/ distinct. (2) Dropping or muting the final -tute; ensure you articulate /tjuːt/ (or /tjuːt/ depending on accent). Practice by isolating /ˈproʊ.stɪ.tjuːt/ and then blending into words, focusing on the /st/ cluster between /ro/ and /ɪ/. Also avoid replacing /tj/ with /dʒ/ in some dialects.
In US English the /oʊ/ in the first syllable is a diphthong with full onset; final /tjuːt/ often realized as /tjuːt/ with a clear Y-connector. UK English may favor /ˈprɒs.tɪ.tjuːt/, with a shorter /ɒ/ and sometimes a non-rhotic r influence not applicable here; Australian English aligns with US/UK but often shows a flatter /ə/ in unstressed vowels and a more clipped /t/ in rapid speech. Across all, the /ˈproʊ/ or /ˈprɒs/ initial syllable carries stress, the middle /tɪ/ is light, and the final /tjuːt/ remains prominent.
Key challenges include the three-syllable rhythm with three distinct vowel sounds, and the final /tjuːt/ cluster, which requires precise mouth shaping for /tj/ and the rounded /uː/ vowel. The /st/ cluster after the first syllable can be slippery in rapid speech, especially when linking to a following word. Additionally, subtle vowel shifts across accents (US /oʊ/ vs UK /ɒ/) can throw speakers off. Focused practice on sequencing and mouth position helps stabilize each segment.
In careful speech, you typically hear three distinct syllables: pro-si-tute, with the final /tjuːt/ clearly articulated as /t juːt/. In rapid or casual speech, some speakers may slightly reduce the middle vowel or blend lightly, but you should avoid fully merging final syllables; maintain a subtle, still distinct final /t/ plus /juːt/ to preserve clarity and meaning.
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