adultery

a-dul-ter-y · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.

Forms

plural: adulteries

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    commit adultery — To engage in extramarital sexual relations.
  • •
    adultery is grounds for divorce — Adultery can be a legal reason for ending a marriage.

Related words

Antonyms: faithfulness, fidelity
See also: affair, infidelity, marriage, unfaithful
Synonyms: affair, cheating, infidelity, unfaithfulness

Etymology

From Old French avoutrie, from Latin adulterium ("adultery"), from adulterare ("to corrupt, defile"), from ad- ("to") + alter ("other").