celibacy
noun
cel·i·ba·cy ˈse-lə-bə-sē 
1
: the state of not being married
2
a
: abstention from sexual intercourse
b
: abstention by vow from marriage
priestly celibacy
Synonyms
- abstinence
- chasteness
- chastity
- continence
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife
Recent Examples on the Web Crawford doesn’t think there was anything so dramatic as a vow of celibacy, but the effect was much the same. 
Christopher Tayler, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 My family is very religious, so my choosing celibacy after my miscarriage was met with joy and hand claps. Desiree Johnson, refinery29.com, 9 Aug. 2022 It’s like Sonny turning the other cheek or pledging celibacy. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022 The Shakers, a Christian group that celebrated simplicity and celibacy, immigrated in the late 18th century from England, where the family of Ms. de Boer’s mother hails from. New York Times, 4 Mar. 2022 Gambling was a hard no and celibacy was expected, except for married couples who were permitted to conjugate for purposes of procreation — but only after chanting for five hours. Ashley Stimpson, Longreads, 19 Feb. 2022 With the evolution of HIV-testing capabilities, deferral windows have been modified: The lifetime ban was shortened to a year of celibacy in 2015 and then reduced to three months in April 2020. Ushma S. Neill And Lala Tanmoy Das, CNN, 21 Jan. 2022 Chastity, Sister Kate says, is not to be confused with celibacy. Corrine Ciani, Rolling Stone, 25 Dec. 2021 Various ideas about her status have played into debates about sexuality, celibacy and women’s role in Christian institutions. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2021 See More
Christopher Tayler, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 My family is very religious, so my choosing celibacy after my miscarriage was met with joy and hand claps. Desiree Johnson, refinery29.com, 9 Aug. 2022 It’s like Sonny turning the other cheek or pledging celibacy. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022 The Shakers, a Christian group that celebrated simplicity and celibacy, immigrated in the late 18th century from England, where the family of Ms. de Boer’s mother hails from. New York Times, 4 Mar. 2022 Gambling was a hard no and celibacy was expected, except for married couples who were permitted to conjugate for purposes of procreation — but only after chanting for five hours. Ashley Stimpson, Longreads, 19 Feb. 2022 With the evolution of HIV-testing capabilities, deferral windows have been modified: The lifetime ban was shortened to a year of celibacy in 2015 and then reduced to three months in April 2020. Ushma S. Neill And Lala Tanmoy Das, CNN, 21 Jan. 2022 Chastity, Sister Kate says, is not to be confused with celibacy. Corrine Ciani, Rolling Stone, 25 Dec. 2021 Various ideas about her status have played into debates about sexuality, celibacy and women’s role in Christian institutions. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
celibate "state of not being married" (borrowed from Latin caelibātus, from caelebs "not having a spouse, unmarried" + -ātus -ate entry 2) + -acy — more at celibate entry 1
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1
celibacy
noun
as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- purity
- chastity
- abstinence
- virginity
- continence
- chasteness
- virtue
- modesty
- innocence
- honor
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- debauchery
- licentiousness
- lechery
- whoring
- venery
- wenching