adj · noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈsɛləbət/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S EH1 L IH0 B AH0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Not married.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Qualifier: chiefly religious
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, not-comparable
Examples
Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A celibate state; celibacy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To practice celibacy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
abstaining from sexual intercourse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
celibate priests
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: continent
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
an unmarried person who has taken a religious vow of chastity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: religious person
History
Etymology
Probably from the noun (“celibacy”) or from celibacy on the model of privacy/private, etc. Alternatively, from Latin caelebs (“single”) + -ate.
From Latin caelebs + -ate (noun-forming suffix)
From French célibat (“celibacy”), from Latin caelibātus (“celibacy”), from caelebs (“unmarried”); compare German Zölibat (“celibacy”). Equivalent to Latin caelebs + -ate (forming nouns denoting a rank, a state)
From Latin caelebs + -ate (verb-forming suffix)
Across languages
Translations
92 source translations are retained for this English entry.
