Prostitute Definition

prŏstĭ-to͝ot, -tyo͝ot

prostituted, prostitutes, prostituting

noun

prostitutes

A woman who engages in promiscuous sexual activity for pay; whore; harlot.

Webster's New World

A man who engages in such activity, esp. homosexual acts, for pay.

Webster's New World

A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.

American Heritage

A person, as a writer, artist, etc., who sells his or her services for low or unworthy purposes.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

prostituted, prostitutes, prostituting

To sell the services of (oneself or another) for purposes of sexual intercourse.

Webster's New World

To sell (oneself, one's artistic or moral integrity, etc.) for low or unworthy purposes.

Webster's New World

(usually reflexively) To perform sexual activity for money.

Wiktionary

(derogatory) To use one's talents in return for money or fame.

Wiktionary

(figuratively) To exploit for base purposes; to whore.

Yet again a commercial firm had prostituted a traditional song by setting an advertising jingle to its tune.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

adjective

Given over to base purposes; debased; corrupt.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Prostitute

Singular:

prostitute

Plural:

prostitutes

Latin prōstitūta from feminine past participle of prōstituere to prostitute prō- in front pro–¹ statuere to cause to stand stā- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin prōstitutus, past participle of prōstituō, from pro- (“for, before") +"Ž statuō (“to set up, to erect").

From Wiktionary