noun
fornication
fawr-nih-KAY-shuhn
Fornication (noun) means Sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other.
noun
1
Sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other.
"The church taught that fornication was a serious sin."
How to use fornication
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, often religious or legal, term for sex outside of marriage.
When to use it
Rarely used casually — it carries a moral or legal tone.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- fornications
Etymology
From Old French fornicacion, from Latin fornicatio, from fornix, "brothel."
Synonyms
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adultery
criminal conversation
Related words
Rhymes for fornication
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for fornication →
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of fornication?
"fornication" (noun) means sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other.
What is another word for fornication?
Other words for "fornication" include adultery, criminal conversation.
How do you use fornication in a sentence?
Example: "The church taught that fornication was a serious sin."
