fornicate
verb
for·ni·cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt 
fornicated; fornicating
intransitive verb
: to commit fornication
transitive verb
: to commit fornication with
fornicator
ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkā-tər
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Multiple charges have been filed against the couple, who remain in custodyA Florida couple have been accused by police of fornicating in the back of a patrol car mere moments after they were charged with biking while intoxicated, PEOPLE confirms. 
Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 17 Sep. 2019 In one corner, a woman fornicated with a peasant, and in the other corner her sister did the same. Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2018 Think of the waters around Louisiana as a great big dating pool for fish, with the eastern and western groups spending the warm summer months gorging and fornicating together. Ben Raines, AL.com, 1 Nov. 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 29 Apr. 2017 But the pages that immediately follow paint a more lurid picture, giving the distinct impression that college kids are fornicating willy-nilly, like so many bunnies in a hutch. Jennifer Senior, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2017 Lonely on the Mountain—the Israelites are fornicating and worshipping a false idol.) Michael Sebastian, Esquire, 15 May 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 2 May 2017 See More
Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 17 Sep. 2019 In one corner, a woman fornicated with a peasant, and in the other corner her sister did the same. Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2018 Think of the waters around Louisiana as a great big dating pool for fish, with the eastern and western groups spending the warm summer months gorging and fornicating together. Ben Raines, AL.com, 1 Nov. 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 29 Apr. 2017 But the pages that immediately follow paint a more lurid picture, giving the distinct impression that college kids are fornicating willy-nilly, like so many bunnies in a hutch. Jennifer Senior, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2017 Lonely on the Mountain—the Israelites are fornicating and worshipping a false idol.) Michael Sebastian, Esquire, 15 May 2017 Irreverent red-faced monkeys fornicated on the temple roof and patrolled the tree’s lower branches, while hundreds of flying foxes hung like overripe fruits in the canopy. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, 2 May 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin fornicatus, past participle of fornicare to have intercourse with prostitutes, from Latin fornic-, fornix arch, vault, brothel
First Known Use
1552, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Medical Definition
fornicate
verb
for·ni·cate ˈfȯr-nə-ˌkāt
fornicated; fornicating
intransitive verb
: to commit fornication
transitive verb
: to commit fornication with
fornicating
verb
as in womanizing
formal + disapproving to have sexual intercourse Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- womanizing
- philandering
- copulating
- mating
- sleeping
- fooling around
- screwing around
- lying
- lusting
- playing (around)
- coupling
- cheating
- catting (around)
- tomcatting (around)
- stepping out
- making out