celibate
/ˈselɪbət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈselɪbət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈse-lə-bət/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsel.ə.bət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsel.ə.bət/ (ame, ipa)
celibate — adjective
- celibatepositive
- more celibatecomparative
- most celibatesuperlative
1. living without sex, typically after taking a religious vow
living without sex, typically after taking a religious vow
Brother Matteo has lived a celibate life since entering the monastery.
collocation: live a celibate life
The young priest promised to remain celibate after his final vows at the mountain monastery.
Sister Fatima took a vow to remain celibate when she joined the convent.
After her divorce, Hana chose to be celibate and opened a small bakery in her town.
The Buddhist monk stayed celibate for forty years, devoting himself to prayer in the hillside temple.
- chaste
'chaste' emphasizes moral purity and can include modest behavior, not just avoiding sex; a married person can be chaste but not celibate
用法筆記
Often used in religious contexts (priests, monks, nuns), but also describes personal choices outside religion.
常見錯誤
celibate — noun
- celibatesingular
- celibatesplural
1. someone who lives without sex, usually due to a religious commitment
someone who lives without sex, usually due to a religious commitment
As a celibate, Brother Kwame gave all his attention to the community he served.
as a celibate + for introducing the role
Lin decided to live as a celibate after joining the Franciscan sisters in Manila.
live as a celibate
Elio has been a celibate for thirty years and now leads a small parish in the countryside.
Sister Yuki, a celibate since her twenties, runs a shelter for homeless families.
Pavel became a celibate after a pilgrimage to Mount Athos and now lives in a small hermitage.