What does celibacy mean?
Celibacy is the state of deliberately abstaining from sexual relations, and in some traditions from marriage itself, usually undertaken as an act of religious devotion, moral discipline, or personal commitment. The word is most closely associated with clergy — Catholic priests, Buddhist monks, and members of other religious orders who take formal vows of celibacy — but it also applies to laypeople who choose it temporarily or permanently. Unlike chastity, which emphasizes moral purity in one's conduct, celibacy describes the practical state of not engaging in sexual activity. In modern usage the term has expanded beyond strictly religious settings: some individuals adopt celibacy for periods of self-reflection, healing after a breakup, or personal focus. Because it implies conscious choice, the word carries a tone of intentionality rather than circumstance, distinguishing it from terms that merely describe the absence of sexual activity.
nounThe state of voluntarily abstaining from marriage and/or sexual relations, typically for religious vows or personal commitment.
- The state of abstaining from sexual relations, especially by vow or personal choice.
- The state of remaining unmarried, particularly as a religious obligation (as with clergy).
"After years of searching for meaning, he embraced celibacy as part of his monastic life."
"She took a vow of celibacy when she entered the convent at nineteen."
"Some people choose temporary celibacy as a way to refocus their energy on personal growth."
For nearly a thousand years, the Catholic Church has required its priests to take vows of celibacy — making it one of the longest-running institutional commitments to abstinence in human history.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of celibacy
The word celibacy derives from the Latin 'caelibatus', meaning the state of being unmarried, which in turn comes from 'caelebs', meaning unmarried or single. The ultimate origin of 'caelebs' is uncertain, though it may relate to a root meaning 'unyoked'. English adopted the term in the early seventeenth century, initially emphasizing the unmarried state before narrowing toward its modern sense of sexual abstinence. Its closest relatives are the adjective 'celibate' and the rarer noun 'celibatarian'.
Related word forms
How celibacy is actually used
Celibacy is a formal or semi-formal term, most commonly encountered in religious, sociological, and historical contexts. It carries connotations of deliberate choice and often spiritual discipline rather than deprivation. While historically associated primarily with religious figures such as priests and monks, the term is increasingly used in secular contexts to describe voluntary abstinence from sexual activity. It is uncountable in standard usage.
Easily confused with celibacy
Celibacy refers to abstaining from sexual activity (and often marriage), while chastity specifically denotes moral purity or restraint in sexual behavior, which can apply within marriage.
Abstinence is a broader term referring to refraining from any indulgence (food, alcohol, sex, etc.), while celibacy specifically concerns abstaining from sexual relations and/or marriage.