Meaning

(chiefly religious) Not married..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly religious) Not married.
2. (by extension) Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.
3. One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community.
4. (rare, intransitive) To practice celibacy.
5. (obsolete) A celibate state; celibacy.

Example Sentences

Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.

Juanita went celibate for a while and then started going out with Da5id and eventually got married to him.

Even during the ages that priestly marriage was permitted, celibates obtained a higher reputation for sanctity and virtue than married priests, who infinitely more than celibates were believed subject to infestation by demons.

However, be that as it may, Stason celebrated with the boys while Hessel celibated alone.

These kids were winding up 45 years and 4 days of celebrating. Me? I'm winding up seven years of celibating looking for a patient virgin.

RICHARD: The Franciscans have turned me down, Angelina. They have asked me to travel another road to sainthood. TOM: Richard is done with celibating!

But if she must break off her celibating, it's a shame and a pity she had to choose him to do it with.

But also with labels like “whore” and “slut”, as a male, it's annoying, because, women don't need to be chastised and made colder in this ice age we live in— they need to be warmed up, turned on, complimented, celebrated (not celibated), encouraged to enjoy their bodies, and pursue pleasure soberly and intelligently.

Word Forms

• cælibate
• cœlibate
• celibates
• celibating
• celibated

Synonyms for celibate

Antonyms for celibate

Related Words

When Should You Use Celibate?

Use celibate when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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