What does debauch mean?
"Debauch" is a formal English word meaning to corrupt a person morally by drawing them into sensual excess, or to indulge oneself in such excess. As a transitive verb it takes the corrupter as subject and the victim as object — one might say a rake sought to debauch his friend's daughter. Used reflexively or intransitively, it describes wallowing in drink, gluttony, or promiscuity. The noun form denotes an episode of wild indulgence, as in "a night of debauch." The word derives from French débaucher, which originally meant to entice a workman away from his employer — literally to displace a beam — so its modern moral sense grew out of an older idea of luring someone away from duty. Strongly negative in connotation and somewhat literary in register, "debauch" survives most commonly in the derivative nouns "debauchery" and "debauchee," though the verb itself still appears in historical fiction, criticism, and moral commentary.
To corrupt someone morally, especially by leading them into sexual immorality or excessive indulgence.
"The aging libertine set out to debauch the young heir before his wedding day."
Often used reflexively or passively: "he debauched himself," "the youth was debauched by city life."
To indulge in excessive sensual pleasures, especially drink or sex.
"He debauched for a week after losing his fortune, then soberly took ship abroad."
An episode or bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
"The festival ended not in quiet reflection but in a debauch that lasted until dawn."
Usually found in phrases like "a night of debauch"; more common in plural or abstract use via "debauchery."
The plural applies only to the rare noun sense meaning an episode of indulgence; the verb forms are "debauchs," "debauched," "debauching."
"His diaries record the debauches of his student years with unsettling pride."
The word "debauch" literally began its life meaning to lure a worker off the job — the French phrase behind it referred to pulling a carpenter's beam out of place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of debauch
The word entered English in the early seventeenth century from French débaucher, meaning "to entice away from duty or employment." The French verb combines dés- (apart) with bauche, a beam or plank, ultimately from a Germanic root also seen in English "balk." The original image was of pulling a beam loose, hence tempting a worker to leave his job; from there the sense shifted to seducing someone away from virtue into vice.
Related word forms
How debauch is actually used
"Debauch" carries a strongly negative, moralizing connotation and sounds formal or literary in modern usage; "debauchery" (the noun) is more frequently encountered than the bare verb today.
Easily confused with debauch
"Debouch" means to emerge or issue forth from a confined space (such as a river emerging from a canyon), while "debauch" means to corrupt morally or indulge excessively.