adultery

[uh-duhl-tuh-ree]

noun

plural

adulteries 

1. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their lawful spouse.

adultery

/ əˈdʌltərɪ /

noun

1. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of adultery¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English adulterie, from Latin adulterium, equivalent to adulter ( adulterer ) + -ium -ium; replacing Middle English a(d)voutri(e), from Old French avout(e)rie

Word History and Origins

Origin of adultery¹

C15: adulterie, altered (as if directly from Latin adulterium ) from C14 avoutrie, via Old French from Latin adulterium, from adulter, back formation from adulterāre. See _adulterate

Example Sentences

In her divorce filing, Senator Paxton alleged that her husband had committed adultery, listing it as the “grounds for divorce.”

From Salon

This hypocrisy is nothing new, from the same people who treat Donald Trump like he's a Christian prophet, despite his three marriages and chronic adultery.

From Salon

“But adultery is not murder ... Everything she did was to protect the affair, not to cover up the murder,” Levine said.

From Los Angeles Times

The mystery that Cave carves out of Fred’s apparent adultery is so thin that it’s transparent.

From Salon

Can you bridge the ethical chasm in a man who hates adultery but seems neutral about most other sins?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• infidelity 

When To Use

What does adultery mean?

Adultery is a consensual sexual relationship or encounter between someone who’s married and a person they’re not married to (who may or may not be married to someone else).In other words, it can be between two people who are both married to other people, or between a married person and a nonmarried person. Typically, for something to be considered adultery, at least one of the partners must be married.On the other hand, similar words like cheating, infidelity, and unfaithfulness can be used regardless of whether either person is married—they simply refer to a (usually sexual) relationship or encounter between people when one or both of them is in a committed relationship with someone else.When it happens with someone other than one’s spouse, a long-term relationship (often called an affair), a single sexual encounter, or anything in between can be considered to constitute adultery. In some cases, a relationship may even be considered adultery when it’s nonsexual but intimate (this is sometimes called an emotional affair).The word adultery is especially used in a religious context, in which it’s often considered a sin. For that reason, it’s often used with the verb commit. It’s also sometimes used in a legal context, such as during divorce proceedings. Adultery is a crime in some places (including in some U.S. states, though people aren’t often charged for it).Adultery is associated with a considerable amount of stigma. The word adultery and its related terms are always used negatively and imply a critical judgment of such actions.Someone who participates in adultery can be called an adulterer. Such people or relationships can be described as adulterous. The word adulteress specifically refers to a woman who has engaged in adultery. (It has been more common throughout history for women to be blamed—and punished—for adulterous relationships than men.)Example: Adultery is a profound breach of trust in a marriage.